Have you ever wondered what Guyanese used to cook on before kerosene, gas and electric stoves were introduced? Guyanese made use of the Fireside, Cast Iron Woodburning Stove and Coal Pots to prepare their meals. The most popular and widely used was the Fireside, an oven made with mud. Guyanese of many ethnicities made use of an outdoor cooking area, where the Fireside was often located. The Fireside is believed to have been brought to Guyana by the East Indians indentured labourers as there is a version of the Fireside called chulah in India. Firesides are also known as cow mouths, chulah, and mudstove.
Fireside – Photo by Sarika Prasad
Interesting Tip
- Chulah is a Hindi word which means stove in India.
- Firesides were nicknamed cow-mouth because they were usually an extension shed attached at the to a house; they extended from the building, just like a cow’s mouth.
What is a Fireside?
A Fireside is an oven that is typically made with mud or clay. In Guyana, there is a modern version that is made of cement and covered in mud and sand. Firesides were used long ago when there were no kerosene or gas stoves available. They are fuelled by firewood and/or coconut shells. The Fireside is typically made on a wooden stand, the base of which is also covered in the mixture of mud and sand. Below this stand, firewood, dried coconut shells, husks and even branches are packed for reach access during cooking. To control the size of the flame and heat produced, a pooknie is used.
Description of a Fireside
The Fireside can be made into two shapes; a rectangle and a horseshoe shape. The most common Firesides in Guyana are rectangle, built with concrete and covered with a mixture of mud and cow dung ! There are two holes at the top of the Fireside which allows you to place pots and cooking vessels. An opening can be found at the front of the oven and it is through this where wood and coconut shells are pushed into the heart of the Fireside. The fire is lit and burns in the body of the Fireside while to food cooks above.
Interesting TIp
- Regular use of the Fireside would cause it to blacken but there’s an easy fix- just apply a mixture of mud and cow dung to have a brand new Fireside
Benefits of Cooking on a Fireside
- Unique flavour and aroma to the food – Traditionally food is cooked in earthen pots in India. The food cooked in these is are believed to maintain moisture and improve the aroma of the food.
- Easy to Monitor – The flames are never too harsh and the food cooks slowly. Because of its slow cooking process, most of the minerals and moisture content of the food remains intact.
- Purifying the house – It is believed that using a Fireside (Chulah) helps to purify the house and air, however, the modern people view it as a polluting agent. The smoke from a Fireside will also help to keep pests like mosquitoes and insects away from the house.
- Chhat Puja – In India, there is a four-day festival held called the Chhat Puja. The first day is begun by cooking bottle gourd and rice on the chulah (fireside). When food is cooked on a chulah it is believed that Sattva-predominant environment is created, removing negativities and welcomes deities with positivity.
About the Fireside
The Fireside is an important instrument in Guyanese cooking and is a part of our history as Guyanese. Many Guyanese have used the Fireside in the past to cook their meals. To date, some of us still use the Fireside, especially in rural areas, where there is limited access to modern utilities. If you’re thinking about trying the true Guyanese style of cooking, invest in a Fireside and add flavour to your food.
Article Reference
- https://designobserver.com/feature/chulha-stove/10717
- http://guyanachronicle.com/2018/12/23/those-were-the-days
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/5-benefits-of-cooking-food-on-a-mud-chulha-clay-stove/photostory/70941576.cms?picid=70941608
- https://guyaneseonline.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/from-the-chamber-pot-to-the-computer-in-guyana.pdf
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