Sibuyas / Onions
Filipino dishes seem to have onions in just about everything… they are a 
regular component for base flavorings in vegetable sautes, used in soups, on meats, as stuffing, etc. Onions are all members of the Allium family of which there are over 300 varieties around the world. They are believed to have originated in the Middle East and have been consumed by humans for at least 5,000 years. Onions are very easy to cultivate and propagate and they are now grown all over the world and have had a tremendous impact on several cuisines. On a recent foray through Divisoria, the onion selection was superb, with at least four types spotted at one vendor: red shallots, red onions (Bermudas), Spanish onions and the White onions. While the peak of the onion harvest is not for another month or two, I think we are seeing an early bounty aided by favorable weather patterns. Stock up and use generously!
Despite having approximately 1.30% of the world’s population, 
the Philippines only grows about 0.16% of all the onions on the planet. Most onions in the Philippines are grown up North in Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Bulacan and Pangasinan. After the rice harvests late in the year (well after the rainy season), farmers like to grow onions in rice fields when there isn’t enough water for another rice crop. Onions typically reach their peak from March to May after which the rains return and rice is again planted in those fields. When onions are harvested, they are plucked out of the soil, dirt brushed off then laid out on the fields for a day or two to get partially dried. Alternatively they are hung in sheds and air dried. They are then bundled and sent off to market or placed in storage. The lack of proper cleaning, drying and storage facilities is the reason for the erratic supply of onions during the year as well as the large fluctuation in prices. In recent years we have relied more heavily on imported onions from China and other countries to augment the locally grown supplies.
In the first photo up top, there is a nice selection of red onions (typically relatively small bulbs, sometimes softer than the Spanish onions and they seem to keep for fewer days/weeks than the the drier Spanish onions), red shallots (also in second photo), Spanish onions and the delicious but ever more difficult to find white onions that are the preferred choice for some Filipino dishes. Onions have a grading system as well, “Extra Large” if they have 35 or less pieces per kilo, Large if there are 36-45 pieces per kilo and Small if there are 75 or more pieces per kilo. You might be interested to know that prices treble from the time they leave the farms to the time you buy them in the market or grocery. Recent retail prices in Divisoria of say P45 a kilo translates into about P13 that went to the guy who actually grew them.
In this third photo, the difference between the standard Spanish or Yellow onion 
and the “Whitish” onion is clearer. The white onion is said to be the preferred choice for Beefsteak Tagalog as it is more opaque, sweet and matches well with the soy and calamansi sauce. It is hard to find the white onions in groceries and I do think that they tend to be softer and more susceptible to spoiling faster. With onion prices at their annual lows, now is the time to make great French onion soups, sofritos for future paellas, onion pizza’s, grilled onions for antipasto plates, etc.
Finally, some onion trivia… the drier the onions, the longer they will last. Onions in developed countries such as the U.S. go through special dryers that extend the life of the produce. If you want to cry less when chopping onions, stick the onions in a refrigerator for an hour before you use them as this seems to reduce the amount of discomfort caused by the sulphur compounds in the onion when they are chopped. Always peel an onion very well and ensure there is no residual dirt on it before you chop it up and throw it into your dish.
bakit may maliit na sibiyas may pinaka nalaki paband siboyas
September 15th, 2006There are dozens of types of onions that are all related. Different types and from different areas of the world result in different characteristics of taste, texture, etc. Shallots and red onions and white onions are quite different from each other… I hope that answers your question katrina.
September 15th, 2006Gus2 ko mag negosyo ng sibuyas d2 sa cotabato city.San po ako pwD mag inquire.Thank you&more power.
September 29th, 2006saan po kaya ako pwede mag storage ng sibuyas? May mga kakilala po kc me na may tanim ng sibuyas at balak ko sanang mamili at ilagay sa storage. pwede po kayang makahingi ng listings ng storage, their address at tel#? thanks and more power!!!
April 11th, 2007lisa, I have no idea where you can store onions, unfortunately. I think locally grown onions DO NOT LAST very long and are rather perishable because they are not prepared correctly after harvest. In other countries, the onions are harvested, the dried dirt romeved from the onion, they are placed through a dryer type contraption and stored at just the right temperature to prevent rapid spoilage. Here the onions still have so much soil and therefore bacteria on them and they tend to rot faster…
April 11th, 2007Hello! Just want to ask Ms. Lisa Gamboa’s email address and contact number. We are based here in Nueva Ecija and we’ve been growing red onions for quite some time already. She might be interested since ready to harvest na rin po ang aming mga sibuyas at lahat po ito ay in good condition especially for those who wish to store it and we are really looking for buyers ng wholesale. Plus, we can also advise her on proper procedure sa pagi-storage because ang pinakamagagandang sibuyas ay sa probinsya namin itinatanim. Here’s my contact number just in case (0919-2155248) Mylene Adona. Thnx a lot!
April 18th, 2007What is the variety of white onion grown here in the Philippines? Thanks.
April 25th, 2007good day im just a student who is interested in starting a bussiness on onions i believe its a good investment. can i have some tips on how to start such bussiness.what month is a good month to buy onions thanx
May 3rd, 2007hi ald,
i m exporter of indina onions, i think indina onion are also sold there,, if intrested pls mail me at sudhirsheth157@gmail.com
May 10th, 2007ano po ba ang scientific name ng native onion,yun pong pula na maliit?
June 28th, 2007pls padala na lang po sa email add ko
thanks po!
Hi, I’m a High School student who is doing a science fair project over onions. My question is: When an onion is grown in different regions does it effect wiether or not they make you cry? My teacher said when he was younger there was an onion that his mother used to always cook with, that did’nt make him cry.I have gotten used to the chemicals released from the onions over time from cooking but it always stung my eyes when i first began cooking. Lachrymatory-factor synthase is released into the air when we cut an onion-as you may know. BUT do all onions have this chemical? I understand if you can’t answer my quesion, but I figured you might know somthing.
September 12th, 2007shallots po ba similar ng spring onions?
December 6th, 2007meron po ba kayo alam na buyer wholesale para sa sibuyas? By mid march po kase mag-aani na kami. Tnx
January 10th, 2008Hi there,
I’m can provide you great buyers I also buy onions. Where are you from?
January 15th, 2008cecilcalara,
you can reach me thru may email add mao_galapon@yahoo.com.Anyways i’m from nueva ecija.tnx
January 15th, 200809209285509
January 15th, 2008cecilcalara,
you can reach me thru may email add mao_galapon@yahoo.com.i’m from nueva ecija.tnx
January 15th, 2008saan maka-inquire ng business sa onions in cotabato?
January 23rd, 2008hi…how much po b ang price ng onion ntin per kilo sa region1..
February 19th, 2008scientific name of sibuyas tagalog and their uses?
March 9th, 2008im looking for supplier nang sibuyas
March 27th, 2008gaano po b katagal ang pag harvest nang red onions mula sa pagtanim nito? pwede po b ito itanim khit anong buwan?
March 27th, 2008I’m willing to supply large quantities of onion at reasonable price, March 30, 2008
March 30th, 2008my contact number is 0919-4345-685, regarding supply of onion
March 30th, 2008interesado po akong bumili ng sibuyas direct from farm whosesale im Ariel Balagtas from san antonio nueva ecija im looking for farm owner here is my email andrie_24_boss@yahoo.com
April 8th, 2008greetings!
June 4th, 2008interesado po ako magtanim ng onion pwede po b ako maka request ng procedure/ step by step kung paano magtanim ng onion at kung ano brand ang maganda itanim d2 po ang location ko sa laur nueva ecija.tnx
more power
God Blesss!
we can supply large quantities of onion at a very reasonable price. we are from nueva ecija and we also have store in manila. here is my email tingalu_28@yahoo.com
June 11th, 2008tnx….
Dear Sir, I’m interested in propagating onions in the Philippines.and actually at this time i know a place in California that I’ll be able to send or supply new variety of onions. please email me.and thank you
August 26th, 2008