Heinz Baked Beans
An enduring British classic
But when our mothers, grandmothers and aunts discovered it
They added their own drop of magic
These mistresses of spices arrived in England
A cold, wet and unfamiliar land
These spice queens longed for the comfort and warmth of their old life
They searched high and low for memories of their motherland
When they could not find traces of home
They decided to blend the two
So they mixed aspects of their former life
With that of the new
They busied themselves in the kitchen
With their handy pestle and mortar as their aid
They crushed the homely herbs and spices
Absorbing the aroma of the onions as they sautéed
A pinch of cumin
A dash of garam masala
Some crunchy green chillies
and a splash of turmeric powder
The tempering process is an art of alchemy
The way the aromatic spices sizzle in a symphony
To create a mouth-watering chemistry
This is how food has the ability to evoke nostalgia and memory
We bow down to the women before us who created a new dish
From something that was frugal yet hearty and still able to nourish
Masala Beans and Tarka beans, what an invention
Born from the humble and resourceful immigrant kitchen
