Cobu
Brazilian dessert
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cobu[a] or Cubu, also known as Pau a pique or João Deitado, is a traditional Brazilian dessert consisting of a bolo de fubá cooked in a banana leaf. The dish can be found throughout the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.[2]
| Alternative names | Cubu, Pau a pique, João Deitado |
|---|---|
| Type | Cake |
| Place of origin | Gouveia |
| Region or state | Minas Gerais |
History
The dish was developed in the early 18th century by Cobu slaves in Gouveia, Minas Gerais.[2] The original dish was a tough cake made of fubá and sugarcane molasses and cooked over an open fire called kpodógbà[b] or kpógbà in Fon.[4] This West African dish that was eaten as a slave food in Brazil was adapted into its modern-form after the addition of higher-quality ingredients such as milk, butter, cheese, cloves, cinnamon, and rapadura.[5] Brazilian ethnolinguist Yeda Pessoa de Castro theorized that the dessert began to be known as Cobu or Cubu after its commercialization by Mina and Cobu slaves.[4][6] Cobu was further refined to include coalhada, fat, and eggs to make it more palatable for White Brazilians and eventually took its current form as a bolo de fubá, wrapped in a banana leaf, and cooked in a clay oven.[5][2]
Cultural impact
The Brazilian municipality of Gouveia calls itself the "Land of Cobu" (Terra do Cobu)[1] and is a destination for tourists who want to try the dessert.[7] Cobu is the city symbol of Gouveia and many businesses and organizations in the city, such as samba schools, social clubs, gas stations, and supermarkets, feature Cobu in their names.[6]
Cobu can be found at festivals and events in Minas Gerais such as the annual Congonhas Quitanda Festival (Festival da Quitanda de Congonhas) in the Brazilian municipality of Congonhas.[8][2] Kobufest, an annual artisanal good festival in Gouveia, is named after Cobu.[9][1]