Chikanda
Zambia's meat-free orchid 'sausage'
Think of it as: Like a vegan peanut meatloaf with a spicy kick
Looks like baloney, it's actually orchids.
What does it taste like?
Nutty and mildly spicy with an earthy, root-like note.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureDense and springy
What is it?
Dried wild orchid tubers are ground and cooked with peanut flour and chili until it sets into a firm loaf. Because it looks like sliced sausage, Zambians call it African polony. It contains no meat at all.
How locals eat it
Sliced and eaten as a snack or side, and served at celebrations.
Watch it
EnglishTap to play (YouTube)Where is it from?
🇿🇲Zambia
CapitalLusaka
Populationabout 22.5 millionestimate (unverified)
IndustriesCopper mining, Agriculture, Tourism
Famous peopleKenneth KaundaFirst president who led the country to independence
HelloHello (English) / Muli shani (Bemba)
CurrencyZambian kwacha
Fun factLocals call Victoria Falls Mosi-oa-Tunya, "the smoke that thunders".
The flag🇿🇲 Green for nature, red for the freedom struggle, black for the people, orange for copper, with an eagle on top.
From Tokyoabout 12,910 kmstraight line, Tokyo to Lusaka
Getting there20+ hours with connectionsrough guide
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeDry season, May to October; the falls are fullest March to May. Also tryNshimaKapentaIfisashi
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeDry season, May to October; the falls are fullest March to May. Also tryNshimaKapentaIfisashi
🇿🇲 Sounds & life in Zambia
HelloHello（Hello (English) / Muli shani (Bemba)）
Latin
Latin
Right now…
AnthemStand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free
MusicZamrock Zambia's fuzzed-out 1970s rock
Listen on YouTube SportFootball
Christopher Katongo (football, captain of the 2012 Africa Cup winners) World HeritageVictoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya) and more National animalAfrican fish eagle FestivalKuomboka (around Mar–Apr, the Lozi king moves to higher ground by boat)
MusicZamrock Zambia's fuzzed-out 1970s rock
Listen on YouTube SportFootball
Christopher Katongo (football, captain of the 2012 Africa Cup winners) World HeritageVictoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya) and more National animalAfrican fish eagle FestivalKuomboka (around Mar–Apr, the Lozi king moves to higher ground by boat)
Ingredients
- 100g dried orchid tuber powder
- 200g peanut flour
- Chili
- 1 tsp baking soda
- Salt
- Water
Can't find it? The orchid tubers aren't available outside the region.
How to make it (one way)
- Dry the orchid tubers and grind to powder
- Boil water, add baking soda and the tuber powder
- Mix in peanut flour, chili and salt
- Stir hard over heat until it thickens
- Set in a mold, cool and slice thickly
⚠️ Over-harvesting of wild orchids threatens several species.