The Terung Dayak (Sour Brinjal, Solanum ferox L.) can be found throughout South East Asia but this plant/fruit seems to be unique to Sarawak in the sense that the fruits are used in a multitude of dishes in "Sarawak" cuisine.
I use the term "Sarawak" as it is used in cooking by nearly every community in Sarawak be they Chinese, Iban, Malay, Bidayuh or any other local races. I have not seen this fruit sold or eaten in West Malaysia or Singapore.
Easily grown locally, the plants in my garden were the result of the seeds left in the water, after washing/cutting the fruit, which I then used for watering the plants in the garden!
The ripened fruit is very sour and used in many ways to make delicious dishes and amongst my favourite dishes - in thin slices to steam with fish, quartered to cook in soup with belacan/chilli or with fish (especially terubok), and so on.
One thing about this plant - just take a look at the hook-like needle sharp thorns.
They are lethal!
I am a Sarawakian left Kch 3 decades ago, since then, like many other Sarawakians residing away from homeland, I keep missing terung asam, bilin and paku. Many years ago when I was in Kch, a native lady was worried, she said that there were "new species" of TA nowadays, bigger and not sour.I hope the original species (seeds) will be preserved well/avoid GMO this unique plants. GMO is a disastrous to all living things and the earth.
ReplyDeleteI agree with u v much as original species for plants, fruits and vege r facing distinction due to the killer GMO. There are some Europeans and Americans had started to keep the HEIRLOOM seeds and fruits trees more than a decades ago as they could foreseen the dangers of gmo (Europe's banned gmo). I hope sarawakians and sabahans can keep seeds at least from 50 yrs old ago plants,of course the older the better and valuable. These seeds can survive very well and will ensure foods will not exhausted. Seeds from grafted plants and GMO ones are very short life and dammed health hazardous. Educate and keep sth heirloom for our next generations, avoid new species. Pls Google more for "GMO" & "HEIRLOOM SEEDS/FRUITS/PLANTS" N ETC.
ReplyDelete50 years is still not enough, for heirloom species, some experts say must be at least 100 years old and of course, after the second war world, people started to draft fruit trees. Why want to create "fibre-free" mangoes (like Taiwan)and end up with constipation, worst colon cancer? Why "seedless" guavae? All seeds have their missions. Can you imagine, one day, when most of the seeded plants are being modified into SEEDLESS, the world will be short of foods...
DeleteCreate a "sweeter" or "very sweet" fruits will end up obesed with diabetes and other chronic diseases...
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do you guys mean the GMO and HEIRLOOM fruits and vegetables things? Just go oneline, want to see how those "ancient" roses and fruits look like? Just search sth like "heirloom roses/flowers" or anything like "heirloom apple"..."heirloom pie..."oooh! of course, readmore about the terrible GMO problems(genetically modified organism). I came across a forergn tv news about too much ORGANISM in the banana exported from an asean countries, since then, I only eat local banana, by the way, if you want to know about the food codes, there is a guide line here : 5 digit - starts w 9xxxx is non gmo fruit, e.g 94122 is certified organic apple red (apple) from New Zealand imported by ZENXIN, if it's 5 digit - starts w 8xxxx, well, it is GMO!!! whereas those with 4 digit and start from 4, e.g 4129 (100% pure apple from New Zealand) is one of the examples.
Deletewell, "pure apple" on the sticker... I think, to be safe, you guys got to surf online for sth like gmo food codes and find out more. Eat safe and keep all our heirloom plants, flowers and etc as the Nature has given to us, don't alter their genes...anyone wants their future generations' genes be altered?...
by the way, the 4 digit starts w 4 is not organic fruits, you expect peticides and many other harmful artificial chemicals in/on them, use a reliable brand of liquid vegetable and fruit cleanser to wash them properly,just to get rid some of the toxins (only), best, ozone them, if you have (again) an reliable and effective ozone machine...best then best, keep as many heirloom seeds and plant only heirloom species.
ReplyDeleteIf it says "certified organic" it must be also NON-GMO.
What to do?
PROTECT OUR HEIRLOOM FOODS IS TO PROTECT THE ENVIROMENT AND OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS!
Be aware that the code number on the stickers of fruits could be faked, e.g the 4-digit code/sticker start w 4 (4xxx) not necessarily safe, so where you get your supplies is very important. Once the gmo (organism) has got inside the body it will become the "Permanent Residencts"of the gut where 80% of the body's immune system is located. According to the scientists, it will destruct our immune system and the body will lost its abilities to fight disease like cancers...
ReplyDeleteEat seasonal fruits and vegetables. NATURAL/NON GMO plants don't keep bearing fruits throughtout the year.
Pls don't go and buy fruits, vegetables and even flowers of "new species" out of curiosity, if not lucky, they r gmo species, then you will containminate the soils/enviroment and the gmo pollens can contaminate your fruits and vege!
BORNEO SHOULD BAN GMO FARMING AND IMPORT OF GMO FRUITS.
SARAWAK AND SABAH SHOULD CULTIVATE MORE CERTIFIED ORGANIC FRUITS AND VEGETABLES - SINGAPORE, BRUNEI , WEST MALAYSIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD HV GOOD DEMANDS ON THIS.
MOREOVER, SARAWAK AND SABAH K MAKE THE ABOVE AS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.
Everyone has the responsibilities to take care of the enviroment.
thanks Anonymous for all the beneficial info on gmo, I read about gmo fruits and foods can destroy our immune system, fighting cancers will become more and more helpless! Meat, fish, cooking oils, seeds nuts and almost all commercial products can be gmo. Learn more about it and don't let DNA/genes of other types of animals to mix with our babies. Scary!!
DeleteThe recent bacteria contaminated apples exported from the America to Sarawak is a real scary thing to know. The importers shd be extra cautious as we really don't know how could such thing happen? We wish Sarawak will end up not as beautiful as Europe, and better than Europe with no compromising in planting GMO crops. Can you imagine our beautiful" Land of Hornbill" is infested by the organisms from the GMO crops and their killer herbicides?GMO crops, fruits and vege can make a lot of moneybut it is just a SHORT TERM GAINS, soon, our people WILL end up disastrously with no turning back. Can our Sarawak Authority give our people more education on this and ensure that our beloved land is GMO FREE?Those who want to be rich, go heirloom, go organic! They will be rare in the future, in fact it is rare now. Can Sarawak plant more non-gmo and heirloom apples trees? Somewhere in Sarawak has successfully cultivated apples for a long time.People will pay huge sum inorder to have a taste of a Heirloom apples and of course other fruits and vege which is geniuely Heirloom, how many people nowadays have the chance to taste that? Love our land true heartedly. Don't forget to keep keep heirloom plants and seeds!!
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