
In search of more street food in Accra, my friend Kaibo and I have been planting ourselves in the neighborhood of Nima over the past several weeks. Walking in Nima, I was curious when I saw these white powdered balls neatly packed in glass boxes. I guess they caught my eye because they kind of reminded me of munchkins from Dunkin Donuts. Kaibo told me they were fura, blended molded balls of millet.
These millet balls are then coated with white corn powder. Fura is mixed and mashed in fresh cow’s milk to create my ultimate favorite street food — brukina. In Accra, you can find women from Labadi to 37 carrying large plastic boxes of brukina in ice water on their heads. (A side note: I just came back from a trip to Benin and I was comforted to see that brukina was sold there too! I’m sure it’s called something else though)
The merchants were even nice enough to let me make my own brukina with the fura. Squishing the millet balls in a bowl of milk brought me back to my third grade science class days. The difference this time was me getting to eat the end product

I see these foods (called Fura,) on the street most times but always thought they were soaps or herbal medicines. I didn’t know people eat these. I know someone would say, they are nutritious and good for eating. The thought of Brukina now scares me. But people still love it. Thanks for explaining what the components are. #StreetFood, good job Roxanne. Hope to join you and Kaibo look for more #streetfoods or let me say #ScaryFoods. lol
Oh, don’t get confused! I have seen balls of soap sold on the street as well. But when I see them they are usually individually wrapped in plastic. Either way, please ask… I don’t want you getting sick saying “But Roxanne told me it was fura…” LOL!
We will invite you next time we go street food hunting!
Lol. Food-hunting. It would be fun to try more than 6 different types of local stuffs in a day. I can’t wait. Just let me know.
I’ve never had any of those things. Although I’m from the part of the country where anyone will expect that I’m familiar with them. I’ll try them one of these days.
[...] ultimate favorite street food — brukina. In Accra, you can find women from Labadi to 37 carrying large plastic boxes of brukina in ice water on their heads. (A side note: I just came back from a trip to Benin and I [...]
From the description – millet and milk – it doesn’t excite my tastebuds. I hope they sell them with something else. I’d need something salty or spicy to go with.
It is sweetened if that helps. It’s funny every time I describe it to someone it sounds so blah. I guess it’s one of those things you just need to try, lol