Sago(Akar) is a kind of Traditional making food from the inner part of the trunk of palm trees.\n\nThe knowledge of preparing the inner part of palm trees is also known as survival subsistence usually prepare in long dry seasons. Sago(Akar) as same as Koto Tisi are the alternative food for community in long dry season.

Sago(Akar) is a kind of Traditional making food from the inner part of the trunk of palm trees.\n\nThe knowledge of preparing the inner part of palm trees is also known as survival subsistence usually prepare in long dry seasons. Sago(Akar) as same as Koto Tisi are the alternative food for community in long dry season.

Sago(Akar) is a kind of Traditional making food from the inner part of the trunk of palm trees.\n\nThe knowledge of preparing the inner part of palm trees is also known as survival subsistence usually prepare in long dry seasons. Sago(Akar) as same as Koto Tisi are the alternative food for community in long dry season.

Sago(Akar) is a kind of Traditional making food from the inner part of the trunk of palm trees.\n\nThe knowledge of preparing the inner part of palm trees is also known as survival subsistence usually prepare in long dry seasons. Sago(Akar) as same as Koto Tisi are the alternative food for community in long dry season.

In the rugged landscapes of Timor-Leste, where dry seasons can stretch long and food insecurity remains a reality for many, the people have long relied on their deep knowledge of wild, resilient crops. Among them is Koto-Tisi—a hard, dark wild bean that offers vital sustenance but must be carefully prepared to remove its natural toxins. What might appear at first glance to be just another seed is, in fact, a symbol of survival, ecological wisdom, and ancestral resilience.\n\nThe bean is typically found growing on hardy, thorny shrubs or climbing vines in semi-wild areas. It is gathered primarily by women, who know when the pods are ready to be picked and how to handle them safely. The challenge lies not in harvesting but in transforming Koto-Tisi into something edible—an intricate cooking process that has been passed down through generations.\n\nPreparation begins with repeated boiling and rinsing, sometimes up to five or six times. Each round helps to leach out the toxic compounds present in the bean. The water must be discarded each time, and the beans carefully watched to ensure that they soften without disintegrating. After boiling, the beans are often sun-dried and stored for later use, to be boiled again before eating or ground into a starchy paste.\n\nThe process is labor-intensive and demands both patience and precision. Elders in the community emphasize that the knowledge of how to process Koto-Tisi is not written in books—it lives in memory, movement, and the rhythms of daily life. To rush the process or ignore the sequence could lead to poisoning. For this reason, children are taught to observe closely, assisting their mothers or grandmothers and gradually learning the delicate balance between danger and nourishment.\n\nIn times of drought, scarcity, or natural disaster, Koto-Tisi becomes a lifeline. Its ability to grow in harsh conditions, with little water or care, makes it a dependable fallback when cultivated crops fail. But it is more than a survival food—it is also a testament to how culture and ecology intertwine. The knowledge required to use it safely reflects a deep respect for the land, a skillset honed through centuries of careful experimentation and oral transmission.\n\nToday, as dietary patterns change and imported food becomes more available, the practice of preparing Koto-Tisi is fading in some areas. But in others, it remains a respected tradition—especially among elders who see it not only as food but as a story, a ritual, and a reminder of community strength in the face of adversity.

This brochure introduces 14 intangible cultural heritage elements of Timor-Leste.\n\nThe publication is a result of a cooperative project between the Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO and ICHCAP.

This brochure introduces 14 intangible cultural heritage elements of Timor-Leste. \n\nThe publication is a result of a cooperative project between the Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO and ICHCAP.