So the roadside delicacy that was in season in the Northern Tigray region of Ethiopia while we were there was belas! Theses belas (cactus fruits/prickly pears) could be seen still growing on the cacti all over – everywhere from on the lodge’s property where we stayed, to out in the fields along the road.
These belas are collected into buckets and sold, mostly by children, who will peel and give you a belas at a time to eat.
Although I really enjoyed the flavor of them, they have many hard seeds, which I was not a fan of. I enjoyed them, but one at a time was good for me.
The natives, however, could eat one after another and the piles of rinds left on the ground at their feet where they were eating served as the method to count how many were eaten before payment. Most of the belas were 1 birr (about 6 cents USD) for four.
The natives, however, could eat one after another and the piles of rinds left on the ground at their feet where they were eating served as the method to count how many were eaten before payment. Most of the belas were 1 birr (about 6 cents USD) for four.
Although they were everywhere, we did make a special stop on the way into and out of the village at the most established looking Cactus Shop.
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