Which country makes the best jollof rice? D.C. foodies put it to a blind test
A food festival in Washington D.C. hosted a blind taste test to settle the long-standing debate over which country produces the best jollof rice. The event highlighted the cultural diversity and regional variations of the dish across West Africa and the United States.
Why it matters
The event serves as a cultural celebration of West African heritage and demonstrates how food acts as a bridge for community engagement and identity.
It's a heated historic rivalry across West Africa: Which country makes the best jollof rice?
Cooks across both Nigeria and Ghana have long claimed to make the best. But chefs in Senegal argue that it originated there in the 14th century – so it must be the best! No fewer than 10 countries offer their own version of the dish; a rich, fragrant rice cooked down with spices, tomatoes and meat.
On Saturday, two thousand people stood in line near Washington D.C.'s Union Market for a yellow box of six, color-coded taster cups. The organizers of the Jollof Festival have traveled across the United States to put this debate to the test, gathering thousands of people for blind tastings of regional jollof prepared by local chefs.
Friends Julie Agbasi and Shakesha Coleman came out to sample the variety and compared notes as they tried each one.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in