2020 Challenges: 52 Exotic Foods – Bright Book Readers

Week 3: Monaka

Monaka is a traditional Japanese dessert consisting of a sweet jam wrapped in two wafers. The jam is usually made of adzuki beans (also known as red beans), but can also be made of mochi, ice cream, chestnut paste, or sesame seed.

Week 2: Banana Flowers

Banana flowers, a purplish or maroon raindrop-shaped blossoms, are used in the cuisine of Southeast Asia and Central America. They are blossoms from banana trees and can grow into bananas.

Week 1: Yuca con Chicharrón

Yuca, also known as cassava, is a tube-shaped root vegetable common in Latin and Caribbean cooking. Yuca root is rich in ﬁber, vitamin C, manganese and potassium. Yuca fries are fried wedges with a light crunch, popular among Americans with Latin American heritage.