Poi

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Definition

Noun: 1. A traditional Hawaiian food: A staple dish made from the cooked, mashed corm (underground stem) of the taro plant, often allowed to ferment slightly, resulting in a thick, smooth, and slightly sour paste.

Usage
  • As a food item: Poi is a central part of Native Hawaiian cuisine and culture.
    • The luau featured a large bowl of fresh poi.
    • She learned how to pound taro to make poi.
  • Describing state or preparation: Often described by its consistency (e.g., one-finger, two-finger poi, indicating thickness) and fermentation stage.
    • I prefer my poi to be a little sour from fermentation.
    • This batch of poi is very thick, almost like dough.
Advanced Usage
  • Cultural significance: Beyond sustenance, poi holds deep cultural, spiritual, and social importance in Hawaii, often served at celebrations and gatherings.
    • The sharing of poi symbolizes unity and ohana (family).
Variants and Related Words
  • Pa‘i ‘ai: A related, thicker and less processed form of pounded taro, from which poi is traditionally made by mixing with water.
Synonyms
  • Taro paste
Noun
  1. Hawaiian dish of taro root pounded to a paste and often allowed to ferment