Demystifying Food Origins
The Guardian atlas
All 64 Guardians, placed in the regions their stories are anchored in. Select a marker to read a Guardian, or filter by region.
Markers sit at approximate centroids of each Guardian’s stated cultural anchor region. They mark where a story is anchored — not where a food “comes from.” Origin here is a region of practice and exchange, never a single point.
Every guardian
The collection in full
❋ Africa 15 guardians
- Zahra Watermelon Nubia / Ancient Egypt (Sudan, Egypt)
- Amina Okra West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Benin)
- Nia Egusi (Melon Seed) West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana)
- Imani Hibiscus West & Central Africa (Sudan, Mali)
- Zola Tamarind Tropical Africa (Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria)
- Tari Fonio West Africa (Guinea, Mali, Senegal)
- Kesi Baobab Fruit Sahel Region (Senegal, Mali, Sudan)
- Amara Cassava Central & West Africa (Angola, Congo, Nigeria)
- Tarika Banana Great Lakes Kingdoms (Buganda, Rwanda, Congo, Tanzania, Kenya)
- Eshe Celosia (African Spinach) West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Benin)
- Sade Jute Leaf (Ewedu) West Africa (Nigeria, Senegal)
- Zuri Bambara Groundnut West Africa (Ghana, Mali, Nigeria)
- Oba African Yam West Africa (Nigeria, Benin, Togo)
- Nyah Shea Fruit West Africa (Mali, Ghana, Burkina Faso)
- Tafari Sorghum East Africa & Sahel (Ethiopia, Sudan, Chad)
✦ The Caribbean 10 guardians
- Marisol Guava Indigenous to Caribbean & Central America
- Calista Soursop Indigenous to the Caribbean & Amazon Basin
- Amaya Scotch Bonnet Pepper Caribbean Islands (Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti)
- Isla Sugar Apple Caribbean (Barbados, Jamaica, Cuba)
- Xiomara Ackee West Africa, brought to Jamaica
- Nerissa Breadfruit Polynesia, introduced to the Caribbean
- Celeste Callaloo (Taro Leaves) Caribbean (Jamaica, Haiti, St. Vincent)
- Solana Mammee Apple Caribbean & Northern South America
- Luz Cassava Caribbean (Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico)
- Naomi Pigeon Peas Caribbean (Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados)
◈ South America & Mesoamerica 9 guardians
- Xochitl Tomato Mesoamerica (Mexico, Guatemala)
- Itzel Maize (Corn) Mesoamerica (Mexico, Guatemala)
- Nayara Pineapple South America (Paraguay, Brazil)
- Yara Cacao (Chocolate) Amazon Basin (Ecuador, Peru, Brazil)
- Ama Quinoa Andean Region (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador)
- Maya Avocado Mesoamerica (Mexico, Guatemala)
- Luna Cassava South America (Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia)
- Camila Papaya South America (Brazil, Paraguay, Colombia)
- Valeria Passion Fruit South America (Peru, Brazil, Argentina)
❉ Indigenous North America 6 guardians
- Wyanet Blueberry North America (Canada, USA)
- Ayasha Cranberry North America (Great Lakes, USA, Canada)
- Nokomis Wild Rice Great Lakes & Upper Midwest (USA, Canada)
- Talulah Maple Northeast USA & Canada
- Aponi Sunflower North America (USA, Mexico)
- Chenoa Pumpkins & Squash Eastern Woodlands (USA, Canada)
✿ Australia & Oceania 8 guardians
- Kara Kakadu Plum Northern Australia (Aboriginal land)
- Malia Macadamia Nut Australia (Queensland, New South Wales)
- Quilla Quandong (Native Peach) Australia (Outback & Coastal)
- Hina Fiji Bitter Melon Fiji & Polynesian Islands
- Tama Taro Pacific Islands (Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji)
- Moana Breadfruit Polynesia & Micronesia
- Ulani Ulu (Hawaiian Breadfruit) Hawaii & Pacific Islands
- Tangaroa Tahitian Lime French Polynesia & Pacific
❄ Arctic/Subarctic 5 guardians
✜ Europe 6 guardians
- Freja Lingonberry Scandinavia & Baltic Region
- Isolde Black Currant Northern & Eastern Europe
- Sylvie Truffle Mediterranean (France, Italy, Spain)
- Bianca Chestnut Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, Greece)
- Edda Rye Central & Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia, Germany)
- Rowan Rowanberry British Isles & Northern Europe
