Cajun vs Creole
The difference between Cajun and Creole can be discussed primarily with respect to their origin, culture, and cuisine. Cajun and Creole are two terms that are used to refer to the people that belong to particular areas of the Southern Louisiana. There is a blend of the Acadians, the Spanish, the French Creoles, Germans, Anglo-Americans, and native Americans in Louisiana. Cajun and Creole show difference in their way of living, their cuisine, their origin and their musical preference. The difference between the two groups of people, Cajun and Creole, will be explored in this article.
Who is a Cajun?
Cajuns have their origin in the rural areas. They reside in the bayou areas of the Southern Louisiana. Cajun is said to be of the Acadian descendant. It so happened that when the Acadians were sent out by the British out of Canada in 1755, they had nowhere else to go but to Louisiana. Hence, they mixed with the Spanish, Anglo-Americans and the Germans who were already in Louisiana.
Cajuns are more religious when compared to the Creoles. They show their desire in living private lives. Cajuns show more interest in the jazz type of music and also blues for that matter.
When it comes to cuisine, Cajuns show more interest in the French type of preparation of food items. Cajun food is heavily seasoned, which is often mistaken as spicy. Also, they are used to using every part of an animal once they kill one. For example, Boudin, a type of Cajun sausage also contains pig liver apart from pork meat, rice and seasoning. Pig liver is added for extra flavor. Onion, bell pepper, and celery are used to provide a flavor base for many dishes.
“Cajun Dish”
Who is a Creole?
The Creoles have their origin in the urban areas. It is interesting to note that the word Creole has its origin in the Latin ‘criollo’. It means ‘local’ or ‘native’. Cajuns originally included people born to settlers of French colonial Louisiana. In the beginning, it was descendants of French and Spanish upper-classes. However, later Creole also included native born slaves of African descent as well as free born colored people. So, Creole is a large group of mixed nations.
Unlike Cajuns, Creoles are not desirous of living private lives. They are not too religious either. The Creoles like the Caribbean type of music and they revel in West African type of music too.
As a matter of fact, Creole cuisine is considered a little higher-brow or aristocratic when compared to Cajun. Creole cuisine was built by people with access to a variety of spices and different ingredients, which in return made the food more special and remarkable. For example, the remoulade sauce contains nearly a dozen ingredients.
What is the difference between Cajun and Creole?
• Cajuns have their origin in the rural areas whereas the Creoles have their origin in the urban areas.
• Creole is a large mixed nation including French, Spanish and African whereas Cajuns are Acadian descendants mixed with Spanish, Anglo-Americans and the Germans who were already in Louisiana.
• Cajuns are more religious when compared to the Creoles.
• Cajuns show their desire in living private lives. On the other hand, the Creoles are not desirous of living private lives.
• Cajuns and Creoles show difference between them when it comes to their cultures, which is shown extremely well by their cuisine.
• Cajun food is heavily seasoned, which is often mistaken for as spicy whereas Creole cuisine is considered more aristocratic than Cajun.
• The music taste of Cajun and Creole is different too. Cajuns prefer jazz and the like. Creoles like Caribbean type of music and West African type of music.
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