Togi/Wild root starch
Togi is a root vegetable that most Filipinos eat as a form of starch much like eating taro or sweet potato. Believe it or not I could not find any reference for this tuber called “togi” in the Philippines even in the Wikipedia so I will not have an English name for it. Anyway, it…
Green “Saba” Banana
Green “saba” banana or commonly called plantain is very common in the Philippines as a snack food. I grew up practically eating this type of banana. It has more starch than sugar compared to other bananas like apple bananas for example. That’s why when you eat this raw, even if its ripe, it’s not as…
Heleconia
Heleconia is a tropical plant that has about 89 species and about 350 varieties which 98 percent is native to the tropical Americas. The plants can be dwarf and grows to 1 1/2 foot, and some are tree like and grows up to 30 foot high. Here in Hawaii most heleconia grow wild and invasive…
Ylang-Ylang/Ilang-Ilang
Ilang-Ilang is probably the most fragrant flower on earth. It’s the secret ingredient in most signature perfumes especially Chanel, I learned. Ilang-Ilang or Cananga odorata is a tropical tree indigenous to the Philippines. It grows tall to about 40 ft. in height. In the forests where they grow well is acidic in nature so they…
Cucumber/Poona Kheera
Cucumber or pipino as we call it in the Philippines is my favorite salad vegetable. I also make pickle out of it. But I really don’t have luck in growing cucumbers. Last month, a friend of mine gave me some seeds which he said came from Sri Lanka. I immediately planted it and see how…