The Toxic Flatbread That Lasts Months

Casabe is a crispy Caribbean flatbread made from bitter cassava, a plant that is actually poisonous until it undergoes a rigorous processing technique. This thin bread is naturally free of fat and gluten.

Making casabe requires carefully removing toxic compounds from the raw bitter cassava root before it can be safely consumed. Once prepared and baked on a flat griddle, the resulting bread becomes incredibly durable and can stay fresh for several months. It serves as a versatile staple in the Caribbean and Amazon, often acting as a healthy, fiber-rich substitute for traditional wheat bread. It is truly remarkable that such an ancient, safe food originates from a plant that is naturally dangerous to eat.