dugyan

Dugyan (photo credit to The Philippine Star)

dugyan - /dug-yan/ (Palaweño fruit) [n.] red durian (sc.name: Durio graveolens)

Unlike the usually cultivated durians of Mindanao, the fruit of dugyan is smaller in size, weighing less than a kilogram with sharper and longer spikes on its thick coat. It is yellow-green when unripe and turns bright yellow to yellow-orange when ripe. 

The Durio graveolens of Palawan (photo credit to Lindsay Gasik's blog, Year of the Durian)

When fully ripe, it opens while on the tree, showing its distinct bright red lipstick flesh that would eventually fall to the ground. 

With its distinct lipstick-red flesh, the dugyan, an endemic fruit in Palawan, is said to be an entirely different species from the typically-cultivated durian that we see in the market. The smell and taste are not repulsive and nauseating. It is almost creamy, but not so sweet. 

In the Philippines, this rare variety of durian is found only in Palawan though similar other red durian varieties can also be found in Borneo, Malaysia, and Thailand 

Dr. Virgilio Loquias, the durian expert of the Philippine's Bureau of Plant Industries, holding a red durian of Palawan grown in BPI-Davao. Photo taken during Lindsay Gasik's search for durians in the country. (photo credit to Lindsay Gasik's blog, Year of the Durian)

Related readings:

• Philippines Durio Graveolens
  Philippines Durio graveolens - Lindsay Gasik's blog (The Year of the Durian) about the red durian in Palawan with Dr. Virgilio Loquias of the Philippine Bureau of Plant Industries.
• Preserving indigenous fruits - an article from The Philippine Star business section that features dugyan.

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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.

All photos by Edgie Polistico are copyrighted. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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