Why Plateau’s Berom love gwote or tere delicacy

For the Berom people of Plateau State, gwote or tere is one of the ethnic group’s favourite delicacies consumed at any time of the day and during every season.

The rainy season through the harmattan period however is a time for gwote vendors to make more profit than usual as many people consume the delicacy to keep warm.

“When the weather is cold, it is a good time to take gwote because it keeps you warm and hydrated,” said Susan Pam from Vom in Jos South local government area.

Chundung Musa, a Berom woman who also lives in Vom, said the gwote, a soup meal is not considered a full course meal because it is light. Chundung said the delicacy can be consumed any time of the day but is mostly taken in the afternoons. She explained that gwote, together with tuwon acha (cooked fonio meal) and kunun acha (fonio pudding) are popular meals among the Berom people.

For Pam Musa, a journalist in Plateau State, gwote is not only popular for its delicacy but is packed with rich and healthy vitamins and minerals that keep the body healthy. “The various herbal leaves or vegetables with other spices used in preparing gwote such as garden eggs, sorrel leaves, onion leaves and acha (fonio) makes it a healthy meal.

“Another thing about gwote is that the one we take in the village is not the same with the modern one. The village gwote is more nourishing which explains why our grandparents had a higher life span. In the village, they make it with all the nourishing and healthy leaves, and mind you, they do not add salt,” he said.

“Gwote, together with tuwon acha, was what our grandparents consumed in the past and it made them strong and healthy. Gwote is a meal I take all the time and one I will be taking this evening,” he said.

Juliana Gyang, who owns a gwote restaurant around Kufang in Jos, says though it is consumed on daily basis and anytime of the day, she makes the most profit during the rainy seasons or harmmatan.

“My customers prefer to take it in the morning when it’s cold because it keeps them warm. Those who come here to consume gwote cut across different gender and ethnic groups. Even though gwote is a popular meal for the Berom, it is also consumed by other ethnic groups,” she said.