Rēwena bread
| Alternative names | Māori bread, parāoa rēwena |
|---|---|
| Type | Bread |
| Place of origin | New Zealand |
| Main ingredients | Potato, flour, water, sugar, salt |
Rēwena bread or Māori bread (Māori: parāoa rēwena; literally 'flour leaven') is a type of sourdough bread from New Zealand. The bread is leavened with a fermented potato starter. It originated amongst the Māori people and is closely associated with Māori cuisine.
Etymology
Rēwena is the direct transliteration of the word 'leaven' referring to the biological leavening ingredient used as a raising agent.[1] Parāoa is the direct transliteration of the word 'flour' which also functioned to refer to bread or dough.[2] Another example of bread developed by the Māori people of New Zealand is parāoa parai (literally 'flour fried').
Preparation
Rēwena bread uses a pre-ferment starter, also called a "bug".[3] It is created by boiling and mashing potatoes, then adding flour and sugar.[4] Māori potatoes (taewa) are commonly used for this purpose.[5] Kūmara, or sweet potatoes, may also be used.[6] The mixture is then allowed to ferment from one to several days, depending on the ambient temperature and humidity.[7]
As with most sourdough breads, the starter can be maintained and used indefinitely, as long as the yeast is kept alive with regular feeding.[7][unreliable source?] The potato starter and fermentation lends rēwena bread its characteristic sweet and sour taste.[7] The starter is then mixed with flour and water, kneaded, and baked, usually in a round loaf.
Cultural significance
Rēwena may also be used to break the Māori taboo associated with visiting a cemetery by crumbling the bread over hands in lieu of washing with water.[8]
References
- ^ "Rewena - Māori Dictionary".
- ^ "Paraoa - Māori Dictionary".
- ^ "How to make the best Maori bread in town". The New Zealand Herald. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ McLean, Mervyn (2004). To Tatau Waka. Auckland University Press. p. 48. ISBN 9781869403065.
- ^ Roskruge, Nick (2014). Rauwaru, the proverbial garden : Ngā-weri, Māori root vegetables, their history and tips on their use. Massey University. Institute of Agriculture and Environment. Palmerston North. ISBN 9780473282196. OCLC 895241793.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Paraoa Parai / Rewena Bread". Kaitime. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ a b c Olsen, Nigel (2007-01-21). "Rewena Bread- the beginning". Curious Kai: The Curious New Zealand Food Blog. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
- ^ Albala, Ken (2011). Food Cultures of the World Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 173. ISBN 9780313376269.