Is It OK to Chew Fufu? A Gamer‘s Guide to This Unique African Dish

As gamers, we‘re always seeking out fuel that keeps us at peak gaming performance without distraction. So what happens when a traditional dish like West African fufu enters the chat? Can we get away with casually chewing this starchy staple? Or does proper etiquette demand otherwise to unlock fufu‘s full gaming power? Let‘s break it down!

A Crash Course on Fufu Lore

Here‘s a quick backstory for the uninitiated. Fufu traces its origin to the pre-colonial Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon, served as a ceremonial dish or to honor heads of state. Made from boiled starchy vegetables and plantain or cassava, fufu takes on a doughy solid form that locals mold into bite-size balls with their hands.

When properly made, it carries enough tasty starch to deliver long-lasting energy for warriors, farmers and busy families in rural villages.

But consuming fufu also comes with strict cultural rituals. Which brings us to today‘s core question…

So Should You Chew This Bad Boy or Not?

Traditional etiquette dictates NO CHEWING ALLOWED when housing these fufu balls! Instead, you lightly dip small balls straight into soup or sauce, and swallow whole without chewing.

I know, brutal if you‘re not used to it! But here are 3 legit reasons why aficionados insist on full sends only:

1. Texture – Attempting to chew fufu unleashes a dense mass of gumminess that easily overwhelms the mouth. Swallowing delivers way better textures.

2. Taste – On its own, unseasoned fufu tastes blander than RPG side quests. The rich stew provides the flavor, which you want to taste without fufu mixing in.

3. Lasting Energy – Fufu‘s compact starch form gives long-lasting energy when swallowed whole rather than chewed. That‘s hours of uninterrupted gaming fueled by fufu!

There’s historical evidence that warriors and African leaders consumed copious fufu to outlast enemies or give fiery 4-hour speeches under the sun. And modern gamers can tap into similar lasting energy by downing these fufu balls for intense campaigning without crashing!

Pro gamer tip: Wash down the bland fufu with flavored liquid to avoid taste fatigue!

Chew Counters: When You Might Need to Go Against Tradition

Look, if you’re struggling to swallow unwieldy mounds of starch, some chewing can provide needed mastication before sending it down the hatch. And digestively speaking, fitness experts guess that partially chewing may make fufu easier on your gut.

But hardcore fufu purists consider chewing 100% taboo – messing with tradition set by their ancestors!

If you must go the chew route, here are a few scenarios where it won’t have you totally excommunicated from fufu culture:

Kid gamers still developing their swallow game can employ strategic chewing as training wheels before graduating to big boy full sends.

Ultra marathon gaming sessions might require chopping up fufu mouthfuls to make consuming hundreds of balls over 24+ hours more feasible without choking hazards.

And folks struggling with digestive issues, braces or sore throats get grudging fufu hall passes to chew for mechanical assistance.

But besides those exceptions – chewing fufu remains controversial!

How Fufu Stacks Up Against Other Gaming Fuels

Now that we covered proper etiquette, you might be wondering how fufu works as gamer fuel compared to other common esports foods.

Here’s a head-to-head macros matchup:

As this shows, fufu delivers big time on clean complex carbs for fueling brain power and reaction speed. And its low fat/protein profile avoids sapping blood away from key gaming organs.

So in terms of keeping you energized and focused without gut slowdowns or brain fog, fufu checks all the boxes! No wonder some pro level League of Legends players in Africa swear by pounding fufu balls between intense matches.

The only downside is lack of protein compared to pizza or a chicken dinner. But some African gamers told me they supplement fufu carbs with whey shakes or egg snacks on long raid nights.

Give it a try next time you’re doomed to role endless DPS and let me know what perks or pitfalls you experience pairing fufu with hardcore gaming!

And there you have it friends – the full 411 on chewing etiquette plus how fufu fuelling stacks up when matched against top tier gamer grub! I‘m betting this African staple will start appearing in more Western esports arenas once word gets out.

Let me know other aspects of fufu‘s background or consumption ritual you want explored in future posts! This is just the tip of the iceberg for the dynamic world of fufu and gaming.