I was going to ask what kind of oil do you use for frying?
Mainly coconut oil and palm oil,,the coconut oil is made here from pressing semi dried coconut between 2 flat stones and this takes a lot of coconut,,it starts as a big mess but after awhile the oil builds up and starts to flow off the rock.
It's for sure a flavor that takes some getting used to, and some things taste like shit when its used ,,like baking muffins breads and such it really over powers the taste. It does have a high heat tolerance and high smoke point, things like fried chicken ,fish and pork are tasty using it..
When it first comes off the rock its mighty rough looking, and got a lot of "floaters" when we get our share I strain it through 2 sizes of silk screen but it still leaves a few inches of settlement on the bottom after it sits for a week or so,,then I'll drain it out slow and easy to get the almost crystal clear oil..
The palm oil we get from the smugglers boats and use and keep it as a staple item.. It comes from Maylay.PI and Indo areas and is dirt cheap a 5 gal can of palm oil converts into a little under 5 US.
Does everyone on the island drink kava? One time I showed up to marry some Fijians. After the wedding the men chased all the women off to the kitchen and started to pass around little cups of tea. I couldn't make out what they were calling it. They sort of sheepishly offered me a cup and not wanting to look like a puss I shot it down in one gulp. Tasted like bitter dirt. They all sort of smiled at each other, like all right we're getting the rev fucked up! Not wanting to be rude I accepted the second, slurping it a bit slower. Than I realized my mouth was numb and my ass had gained ten pounds. And I figured it out.
You betcha,But it's not produced here,,,its been traded for corn and rice for as long as grand pa can remember,, he says kava kava has always been here as far as he knows... Kava kava is used every night by lots of people, usually after getting back to the hut after 12 hours of farming ,fishing ,,or what ever their work day involves,while waiting for his dinner,,not everyone agrees with the way its used,,,the younger ones want to use it to unwind after farming a rice or corn field all day and prefer to chew on the root, which gives you the best (if ya ask me) buzz,the older use it only for ceremony's like trade meeting with other islands, or in my case when someone new has asked to enter your hut, and they use it in powder form,,I got to liking the grayish milky liquid, with the really quick effect, I hit the kava kava a lot when we first got here meeting people, and still have a cup full from time to time when we visit friends here and on other islands..