How to harvest simsim in 7 easy steps the slow dry method common among the Luhya
Simsim is quintessential to Luhya food. It is essential in the preparation of delicacies namely: authentic homemade peanut butter; the beloved confectionery- simsim balls; a hearty paste known as kamasikhisikhi; to be enjoyed salted and roasted as a snack or traditional male virility booster.
Instructions
Identifying crop ripe for harvesting
- Simsim is harvested by cutting the whole plant — stem, leaves, fruits the whole shebang — once it becomes yellow then brown/red in the field.
How to slow dry the simsim in preparation for harvesting
- First, the harvested crop is tied together in a bunch that can fit in one hand. One then ties the bunch under the shade formed by the eave of the kitchen. You know the space between the outer surface of the wall and the eave of the roof? My people, the Bukusu, call this place kamatoche. The Maragoli call it rusimbu. Yes this is the place where simsim is hung to dry.
- When you slow dry, you have to wait… and wait… Harvested simsim, when slow drying, is left to hung for up to a month. Basically, all you have to do is to keep collecting whatever of the early fruits that have been released by natural shattering of the simsim pods as the crop ripens. Keep waiting and collecting, until the crop is fully dry. To know you are almost there, the simsim crop stalks will turn brown in color and will be able to hear a crackling noise as the pods pop open on their own.
Final simsim harvest preparation by sun drying
- On the day you are ready to harvest the simsim from their pods, air dry the dry simsim on direct sunlight for at least three hours. Do this by spreading the crop on a protected flat surface that will allow you to hygienically collect any seeds that will be gotten from the pods popping open in the heat of the sun.
Manually harvesting simsim by thrashing
- First, gently thrush and shake the bunches and collect whatever is availed. The pods will produce the simsim if they were dried properly. Once you are satisfied that no more can be gotten this way, using a firm but light stick, strike the pods open. The simsim will be dispersing as you strike if the pods are dry. You need to pay attention to every pod, empty it before moving on. Patience my brother…
Cleaning harvested simsim by removing chaff and other unwanted stuff
- Winnow to remove foreign materials like plant remains. Pick and sort out any unwanted stuff to make sure no rocks, sticks and other foreign matter find their way into the simsim.
Storing the harvested simsim
- Always in a cool dry place such as a covered guard or pot.