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Content creator Raymond Kahuma's recent attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world's largest chapati, right here in Kenya, was an ambitious undertaking that ultimately cost over Sh1.19 million.
Content creator Raymond Kahuma attempted to make the World's Largest Chapati in Kenya, costing Sh1.1 million
The goal was to create a chapati weighing 150 kilograms, aiming to surpass the current record of 145 kilograms and 3 metres in diameter, set in India.
The project ended in failure but provided a look into the Sh1.1 million bill shouldered by Kahuma in the attempt.
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Cost of Stove
The first phase involved building a custom brick stove.
To accommodate a chapati larger than the 3-metre record, the stove was constructed to be 3.5 metres in diameter.
Artisans construct a 3.5-metre diameter custom brick stove, used by content creator Raymond Kahuma in attemting to make the World's Largest Chapati
This stage was completed in one day and cost a total of Sh137,470.
The expenses for the stove included Sh83,200 for materials (bricks, sand, cement, vermiculite), Sh22,970 for labour, Sh14,100 for transport, and Sh17,200 for the location and security.
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Building the pan
A massive frying pan was required for cooking the chapati.
This was fabricated by welding together six large pieces of black sheet metal, which were then cut into a circle.
Artisans construct a giant frying pan by welding together six large pieces of metal and cutting them into a circle
The pan was reinforced with more metal to prevent it from sagging when hot, and large handles were added.
This process took six days and cost Sh290,470.
The costs included Sh148,510 for materials (sheets, iron rods, welding equipment), Sh65,250 for labour, Sh25,950 for a generator, Sh24,460 for transport, and over Sh26,000 for location, security, tents, and chairs.
Rolling pins next
To manage the dough, large wooden rolling pins were constructed.
Additionally, 20 thin pieces of wood were made.
These were designed to slide under the chapati to spread cooking oil and prevent it from sticking or burning.
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Flipping the chapati
The most significant engineering challenge was flipping the chapati.
The solution involved four large, round wooden boards.
The plan was to slide two boards underneath the chapati and place two on top, effectively clamping the chapati in the middle.
Round wooden boards that would be used to flip the World's Largest Chapati, attempted by content creator Raymond Kahuma
This would, in theory, allow the team to flip the entire assembly to cook the other side.
The creation of all the wooden tools, i.e rolling pins, oil sticks, and flipping boards, took four days and cost Sh257,736.
Materials accounted for Sh198,728 of this cost.
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How the chapati was weighed
To verify the record, a method for weighing the final product was devised.
A large, square metal frame was built to suspend a butcher's scale.
Artisans construct a large, square metal frame to be used in weighing the World's Largest Chapati, attempted by Raymond Kahuma
The plan was to hang the cooked chapati (while on two of the wooden boards) from the scale, then subtract the weight of the boards to get the chapati's net weight.
This weighing rig was constructed in two days at a cost of Sh133,600.
This included Sh89,000 for materials and Sh31,200 for the butcher scale and ropes.
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Cooking the chapati
For the final attempt, Kahuma assembled a team of chapati chefs.
A team of chefs oil a giant pan, used to attempt to make the World's Largest Chapati by content creator Raymond Kahuma
They prepared a mixture of water, salt, sugar, oil, and turmeric, then mixed it with 153 kilograms of flour to create two large batches of dough.
A team of chefs transfer the dough to a giant frying pan, used to attempt making the Word's Largest Chapati
The dough was transferred to the oiled giant pan and rolled flat for one full hour.
A large metal ring was used to give the chapati a defined circular shape.
The World's Largest Chapati, attempted by content creator Raymond Kahuma, was rolled for over 1 hour, using custom-made giant rolling pins to make it flat
The team then lit the stove with four bags of charcoal.
Once the stove reached a hot temperature, the pan was transferred onto it to cook.
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Why it failed
The record attempt came to a halt during the cooking process.
When the team tried to insert the thin wooden sticks to spread oil underneath, they found the sticks would not slide.
Why it failed: The team was unable to flip the chapati
Instead, the pressure caused the chapati to break.
This failure meant the team could not get oil under the chapati to prevent burning, nor could they get the flipping boards into position.
With no way to oil or flip the chapati, the attempt was officially called off as a failure.
The total cost of the project, including all equipment, preparation, and the final attempt, reached Sh1,190,937.
This final figure was composed of the Sh819,276 for the custom equipment, Sh233,403 for preparation (initial ingredients, labour, utensils), and Sh138,258 for the final attempt day.