Casabe from scratch! Canadians learn to prepare this ancestral Dominican treasure

With hands-on experience and guided by live instructions, nearly 20 Canadian participants learned how to prepare casabe from scratch during the “Meet in Paradise Canada 2026” event, organized by the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) at the Encare Centre.

The experience allowed attendees to learn about the traditional process of making this food, from the preparation of the cassava to its transformation into a thin cake ready to cook. During the demonstration, participants followed each step and learned techniques passed down from generation to generation, getting closer to one of the most authentic expressions of Dominican gastronomic culture.

Casabe is one of the most iconic products of the Dominican Republic and is part of the Taíno heritage that remains alive in the national cuisine.

Made from bitter cassava, this ancestral food is characterized by its crunchy texture, its versatility, and its cultural value, as it has accompanied the diet of Caribbean communities for centuries. Today, it remains present in Dominican households and is also projected as a product with touristic and gastronomic potential.

The activity sparked the interest of travel agents, who valued the opportunity to learn about a Dominican tradition in a practical and experiential way.

The demonstration showed that the promotion of the destination is not limited to its beaches and hotels, but also includes its history, its flavors, and the customs that are part of the country’s identity.

The “Meet in Paradise Canada 2026” event, held this Monday, October 26th in Toronto, brings together hotel chains, airlines, tour operators, wholesalers, and travel agencies with the purpose of strengthening commercial relationships and expanding the promotion of the Dominican Republic in the Canadian market.

The event includes a business area called Marketplace, where more than 30 companies participate in business meetings to present the offerings of the country’s various tourist destinations.

Canada constitutes the second largest source market for tourists to the Dominican Republic, after the United States. For this reason, MITUR promotes meetings, training sessions, and cultural experiences that allow travel agents to learn firsthand about the diversity of attractions and products they can recommend to their clients.