How Gullah Geechee Cuisine Shaped Southern Food

Red rice, okra soup, shrimp and grits, benne wafers — these aren't just Southern dishes. They're Gullah Geechee dishes with direct roots in West African cooking traditions.

Enslaved Gullah Geechee people brought rice cultivation expertise that made South Carolina the rice capital of America. They brought okra, black-eyed peas, and watermelon from Africa. They created one-pot meals that became the foundation of Southern cuisine.

Today, Gullah Geechee chefs are reclaiming this culinary heritage. Our Travel Magazine covers the best Gullah Geechee restaurants. Our books document food history.

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