buti-buti

buti-buti -/bu-tî bu-tî, buti-butî/ (Cuyonon [Palaweño] snack) [n.] Cuyunon puffed rice.

The ampao (puffed rice) of Cuyo island, found in a group of islands in the northeastern seas of Palawan. This ampao is mixed with caramelized sugar and molded into small balls. 

I found these packs of buti-buti peddled by Pastor Abad in the public market of Roxas, Palawan. I thought the balls were crumbled popcorn. But a closer look told me they are puffed big kernels of rice. I am amazed there is such kind of rice in the country with big kernels and grown in that small Cuyo island.

Buti-buti is made with native rice grown only on Cuyo island. The rice is dehulled manually using alho and lusong (wooden pestle and mortar) which produces barely polished native rice grains, with reddish or brown-colored bran intact.

The dehulled grains are pan-roasted until each grain would burst open to become like popcorn. Then muscovado sugar is melted (caramelized) in a pot with a little amount of water and the puffed rice is added in and mixed to combine with the caramelized sugar that served as the sweetener and binder of buti-buti. The caramel-coated puffed rice is then molded by hands into small balls, about the size of a golf ball.

Unlike popcorn, this native puffed rice is quite dense and the outer layer of the kernel is leathery that needs a lot of chewing to fully masticate. Only by chewing it well that you can savor the true taste of buti-buti.

These balls of buti-buti are delicate to handle. It sticks to your finger and easily crumbles when pressed between fingers or even when poked as shown in the next photos.

Due to a very limited supply of the kind of rice used, buti-buti is mostly reserved only to be prepared during festival celebrations on the island or on other special occasions, depending on the availability of the rice.

I got this authentic product of Cuyo, Palawan just an hour after it arrived from Cuyo island. Back then, it would take about two days to transport buti-buti to Roxas, Palawan. Cuyo is a small island off the northeastern sea of mainland Palawan. It's only in Cuyo island that you can find this rice delicacy.

The variety of native rice used in making buti-buti is the heirloom rice of Cuyo island. Growing this rice is seasonal and the grains are scarcely available, mostly only during harvest season or while stock last. This explains why the small pack of buti-buti I bought cost much. 

Rice farming in Cuyo island relies only on rain and sunshine to sustain its production. The rice is grown organically and without using synthetic pesticides.

I still kept on wondering how the rice subsists on that small island.

The name buti-buti is derived from the Ilonggo word butî which means the popping sound of bursting grains or kernels when roasting rice to make puffed rice or roasting maize to make popped corn.

Related posts:

Ampaw



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kandis

kandis - /kan-dis/ (Palaweño seasoning) [n.] sun-dried batuan fruit \sun-dried slices of batuan fruit. 

Other local name:

• also spelled as candes in Palaweño [Cuyonon]

The name kandis is derived from the name of a far-flung place called sitio Kandis of Brgy. Bacungan in Puerto Princesa City of Palawan where the process of sun-drying sliced batuan fruits originated. The fruits are sourced from the forest of Palawan, though some are grown now on the farm. However, further research disclosed that the origin of kandis was actually from the Sumatra island of western Indonesia. When batuan fruits are cut into slices and dried, it is called kandis by the locals due to its semblance in appearance and taste of similarly sliced Sumatra's assam kandis (Garcinia xanthochymus). Assam kandis means 'kandis acid' or 'sour kandis' in English. Kandis was an ancient kingdom in Sumatra, Indonesia of the Malay Archipelago.

Pieces of kandis from the public market of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

In Puerto Princesa City, the batuan fruits are sliced lengthwise into long strips, the seeds removed, and have it dried immediately under the intense heat of the sun.

Pieces of kandis from the public market of Roxas, Palawan.

The Cuyonons of Palawan copied the process but had the fruit sliced crosswise thinly making the sliced pieces look circular.

Packs of kandis being sold in the public market of Roxas, Palawan.

Palaweños had the idea of sun-drying the batuan fruit to have a year-round supply of this popular Visayan souring agent, as batuan fruit is seasonal and is abundant only in summer. A stock of kandis has a shelf life of more than a year.

Packs of kandis being sold in the public market of Roxas, Palawan.

 

When mold appears after several months of storage, kandis can be washed clean by rubbing the pieces together in plain freshwater, then rinsed and sun-dried again. 

Like fresh batuan fruit, kandis (or candes) is really good to sour the soup of tinola (boiled fish a la sinigang), laswa, lauya, linaga, kansi, and other soupy meat and vegetable dishes.

Packs of kandis being sold in the public market of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

It is suggested to wash kandis well before using it in cooking. Add it to the dish only when cooking is about to finish as it has the tendency to emit a hint of bitterness when boiled over a long time or when overcooked.

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For more about Filipino food, see  this Philippine Food, Cooking, and Dining Dictionary. It is OPEN and FREE.

Continue to follow my blogs. You can also follow and learn more by joining us in our Facebook group. Have more bits and pieces about our kind of food, ingredients, and ways of cooking, dining, and knowing food culture across the 7,641 islands of the Philippines.  

Encouragement and enthusiasm are not enough. I also need moral support, prayers, and anything else that can uplift my spirit and keep my good reasons. Keep them coming. All I know is that I am happy with what I am sharing and giving away. If you are pleased and happy with what I am doing, just smile and please share the happiness. Keep sharing and include to share the PHILIPPINE FOOD ILLUSTRATED. I feel energized when my blog becomes one of the reasons why you are happy and smiling. 

Edgie Polistico