SOFKEY (sofke, sofke) Sofkey, derived from the Creek work safke
or osafke, is a sour corn drink or soup enjoyed by Native tribes
who once lived predominantly in the Southeastern United States.
Today, these tribes include the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw,
Creek or Muscogee, and Seminole who reside primarily in
Oklahoma, as well as the Alabama and Koasati who live mainly in
Louisiana and Texas but also in Okfuskee and Hughes counties in
Oklahoma. For most North American tribes, corn soup is a common
food, but it can vary greatly in its ingredients and
preparation. The Southeastern sofkey is as different from
northeastern corn soup as German cooking is from French. Sofkey
is made by cooking white cracked corn in a large supply of
water, flavored with lye made from wood ash. No other seasoning
is used except among the Koasati, who cook the corn in salted
water rather than lye-ash. The mixture is cooked over moderate
heat for three to four hours. The soup is eaten both hot and
cold, using either a spoon or cup dep