Comments on: Gorgeous “Greens” at the Legazpi (Albay) Market

By: Marketman

Marketman — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:56:21 +0000

Elmer, sorry, I am not familiar with coffee tops as an ingredient.

By: Elmer I. Nocheseda

Elmer I. Nocheseda — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:45:26 +0000

It like your photos of lubilubi and cassava tops. I have not tasted them yet.

Do you know that we can eat also the “coffee tops”, the young sprouts of a coffee tree? I was able to buy a bunch from a Tausug trader in Quiapo Muslim Center.I still have to be used to its very bitter taste which lingers even long after you have eaten it.

By: GenerSumilang

GenerSumilang — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 08:44:27 +0000

Betel leaves??I dont think if we call it a “common mistake” because its not only the philippines who are chewing them, i went as far as morocco and tunisia and they are known to these countries too! they may be banned in some middle east countries due to their characteristic but still sprawling illegaly around.Its common to thailand,burma,laos,vietnam,india and pakistan as an alternative to tobacco and in indonesia as an stimulus leaves but they have one simple similar procedures, to chew it with a bettlenut and spit! which makes me wonder if how all this countries know these? Our indigenous people here like ifugao,igorot,ilongots and even some ilocanos are like part of their daily lives. but using it for food? havent heard it before, perhaps as a herbal medicine yes. i planted some of these leaves in my house in morocco and i got some critics on it. i dont realised that they even haves better quality than what we have(as they said)I tried once or twice eating it but i got too dizzy, then i stopped! I feel too hot and bad to chew!!! its very unpleasant to me..

By: GenerSumilang

GenerSumilang — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:23:56 +0000

Lubi-lubi is known to ilocanos as the cassava or banana cake! they normally cooked the cassava or tapioca in water then put it on a hollowed wooden pod, smash the cassava by two long wooden shafts or they called it “binabayo” until it will become tender and totally finely smashed. they then mixed it with margarine,sugar and grated coconut meat. im surprised to know that there is a leaf called lubi-lubi, strange to me,
Well, many exotic vegetables are not yet known to many here like the “KURKURAPPOT”,BALLA-IBA,PANNALAYAPEN,KALUNAY,UBOG and many more, ask the ilocanos and they know them very well…

By: Marketman

Marketman — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:52:03 +0000

Rene, you may be right, after all, the betel leaf is not from the betel nut tree, but from a totally different vine…

By: Rene Guatlo

Rene Guatlo — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:18:18 +0000

i read somewhere that betel leaves are used to wrap areca nuts; but that “betel fruit/nut” is a common mistake. perhaps you have better info.

By: risa

risa — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:42:27 +0000

Hi MM,

Which market can you suggest I go (in Manila) with varied vegetables? All I ever see even in some large public markets are chinese cabbage, sayote, baguio beans and carrots (boring).

Oh, by the way, thanks for showing what Lubi Lubi is! I only ever know Lubi lubi from the song Enero, Pebrero, Marso, Abril…lubi-lubi… It doesn’t make sense that it’s in that song, does it? Haha.

By: Maricel

Maricel — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:53:38 +0000

Nueva Ecija is also a treasure trove of indigenous vegetables. When I got married I was introduced to a whole gamut of vegetables I have never even seen or heard of bearing such outlandish names such as teramuki, tugi, tungo, pongapong, himbabao, alibangbang, kulitis and much more.

By: PinaySpy

PinaySpy — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:48:35 +0000

I realize there are many kinds of leafy greens one can cook in the Philippines. I want to cook more vegetarian when I start living there but it seems that I am not educated enough which is which and what recipes I can use. If you or anyone knows of a complete reference of Philippine gulay/produce please let me know.

By: eej

eej — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:37:23 +0000

Ah, utter abundance of health food. Follow this mantra,” Eat your greens for a long healthy life.”