1. Imperialism and UN food drops -Reading the Siege of Krishnapur (by J. G. Farrell) this week I was reminded of how precious sugar was (even before the seige).I thought of my tour around Mount Vernon when the guide explained about sugar arriving in wrapped cones from England and being kept under lock and key। Today there is a vast amouont of sugar in traditional Indian sweets. This week I think I'll do some digging to find out when these 'traditional' Indian recipes originated. Before white sugar, before white flour? Were these treats made with ground lentils or wholewheat flour and with honey instead of sugar syrup? Checking out today's jalebi recipe is pretty hair-raising: white flour, corn flour, oil and sugar with a bit of yogurt.
   
   My interest in the historicity is connected to the short time I was in the Sudan in January. At that time the rural communities were at the end of their food stores and there was little available in local shops so their staples were provided through UN food drops. The food drops consisted of vegetable oil, white flour, white sugar and white rice. None of these foods were known in the area 40 years ago, but now the Dinka people cannot imagine life without them
   
   Lots of good things Imperialists and UN might have brought, but a taste for refined foods isn't one of them.