Vita Sinoa (Chinese Made) vs. Vita Malagasy (Malagasy Made)

For Christmas this year, I bought Daniel miniature cooking pots with mini metal spoons. We plan to put salt in one and pepper in the other and put them on our table. They are a miniature version of the real cooking pots that are found in most Malagasy households. Actually, that’s one reason we wanted them as they have the “name-brand” Cocotte written on the lids.

When our Malagasy friend saw them, she began talking about the one her six-year-old granddaughter has and how she enjoys cooking rice (probably only about two tablespoons of rice will fit) in it. I commented on how much stronger and realistic the Malagasy ones are compared to the plastic Chinese-made ones that are also sold on the streets here. Our friend didn’t miss a beat but replied, “Yes, the Malagasy ones are so much better! My granddaughter would melt the other one right away cooking over the fire!”

Of course, I just smiled. I couldn’t help thinking how in America, we would never dream of letting our small children cook over a real fire alone so the plastic pots would just be used for “pretend” play. But here in Madagascar, not only do children play by cooking rice but many of them actually cook meals for their families and take care of their baby brothers and sisters!