Creole
Bojo: cassava and coconut cake
Bojo is a Surinamese cake of grated cassava and coconut, dense and moist in texture, usually with raisins and a shot of rum. A slice at a Paramaribo market costs SRD 30 to SRD 80.
Bojo is not a light cake. It is dense, moist and almost sticky, and that is the point: cassava and coconut give a texture closer to pudding than to sponge.
There is usually rum in it, and raisins. The top bakes dark brown and is the best part.
It is the default sweet ending, and the best-selling cake at Surinamese bakeries in the Netherlands.
Frequently asked questions
What is bojo cake?
Bojo is a Surinamese cake of grated cassava and grated coconut with sugar, egg, raisins and usually rum. It is dense and moist rather than airy.
Does bojo contain gluten?
Traditional bojo is made from cassava and coconut without wheat flour and is therefore naturally gluten-free, but many bakers now add flour. Ask if it matters; a slice costs SRD 30 to SRD 80 at a Paramaribo market.