Peanut Butter

One of the things I loved in Gabon was the fresh peanut butter that they sold everywhere in the markets. I preferred the darker stuff, made from peanuts that had roasted for longer. When the peanuts were in season, I even bought some raw ones to roast, shell, and pound into a smooth butter. Here in Bolivia I’ve only been able to find American brands of peanut butter at elevated prices in the supermarket….until I saw the Mennonites selling it at the intersection with all the kids who try to wash your windows and the ladies trying to sell you mandarinas. Ever since I made this discovery, I’ve been seeing Mennonites in every doctor’s office I enter. They also make most of the cheese that is sold in the grocery stores, as well as a variety of other products like Mexican style nachos in the grocery store. Apparently there are colonies of Mennonites throughout the country. They produce soy products and animal products and are mostly known for the butter and cheese they make. All the men wear overalls and the women wear long-sleeved dresses and bonnets. They don’t evangelize, and they don’t inter-marry. The men speak limited Spanish. I’ve been told by Bolivians that they either come from Germany or Canada. Hmmm.