Gofe
A porridge of crushed, lightly toasted green barley made on Porto Santo, whose name probably derives from the Canarian gofio brought by fifteenth-century Canarian immigrants.
A porridge made on Porto Santo (‘holy harbour’) from tender green barley, crushed after being lightly toasted.
When the Canary Islands were conquered by the Spaniards, they noticed that the inhabitants ‘ate gofio of toasted barley’. It is likely that gofe is a corruption of gofio, and that this term was brought to the Madeira archipelago by people from Gran Canaria, La Palma, Tenerife and La Gomera who came to our island in the 15th century (see Slaves).
Élisée Reclus says that gofio, the national dish of the Canaries, is a paste made from the flour of various grains, popped over the fire.
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Place
Places mentioned · 06
Abroad
- Canary Islands
Spain. Origin of gofio and of the term.
The Canary Islands are the archipelago neighbouring Madeira, with disputed accounts of their discovery. Tradition holds that their Béthencourt king sold them to Prince Henry in exchange for lands in Madeira. The Elucidário notes many contacts between the two archipelagos, including scientific visits, the Orfeão Madeirense's tour in May 1922 and the massacre of forty Jesuits in their waters.
- Gran Canaria
Spain. One source island of Canarian immigrants.
Gran Canaria is a Canary island whose natives were barred from residing in Madeira in 1490, and it was one source of Canarian immigrants. It is covered in Schiffner's flora study and gave its name to a pamphlet by Dr. Douglas.
- La Gomera
Spain. One source island of Canarian immigrants.
La Gomera is a Canary island named in the 1490 ban on Canarians residing in Madeira. It was one source of Canarian immigrants.
- La Palma
Spain. One source island of Canarian immigrants.
Canary island in sight of which the forty Jesuit martyrs led by Inácio de Azevedo were killed. It also features as a source of Canarian immigrants and as a landmark sighted on voyages to Madeira.
- Porto Santo
Island where gofe is made.
An island of the archipelago, settled alongside Madeira and forming one of the three captaincies. It has always constituted a single parish, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Piedade, whose church was repeatedly sacked. The Elucidário records the Moorish pirate raid of 1617, its own Misericórdia and a rainwater channel built on this drought-prone island.
- Tenerife
Spain. One source island of Canarian immigrants.
Tenerife is one of the Canary Islands. The Elucidário notes its celebrated Orotava dragon tree, felled by a gale on 23 January 1868, the introduction of the boganga to Madeira from there in 1836 or 1837, and the blending there of Madeira wine with cheap local wine. It was also a source of Canarian immigrants to Madeira.
People
People mentioned · 01-
French geographer quoted describing gofio as the Canarian national dish.