Food trip: Minukmok
Would you believe that this delicacy paved the way for thousands of men and women to end up together as a couple?
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| Minukmok |
Minukmok is a traditional delicacy in the province of Quezon. It is made from a variety of bananas called saba. Making this dish is quite simple. You just need saba, sugar, margarine, and the traditional large mortar and pestle.
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| Minukmok is also called Nilubak in Quezon province |
Note: This delicacy has several names in Quezon province. It is sometimes called Nilubak, Niyubak, etc. In other provinces, the minukmok varies by means of ingredients. Regardless, I will focus on the story of the minukmok of Quezon based on the stories I learned from the Experience Quezon 2016 Media Tour.
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| Minukmok main ingredients... |
Here's how a minukmok is made:
- Peel the saba(s).
- Place the peeled saba(s) in the mortar and pestle.
- Pound it continuously until it is mushy.
- Add the sugar and then pound it again until it is well blended.
So how does the minukmok contribute to creating couples?
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| Pound... pound... pound... |
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| ...then add sugar |
Long ago, before the age of the "text relationships", young men had to first get the approval of the parents of the girl that they intended to court. Parents then are very protective and would usually keep a watchful eye on their daughters. In order for the men to get a chance to spend time with the women and court them, they would usually ask them to make minukmok.
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| Seems ready to me! |
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| Apply margarine... then share! |
Since it takes time to pound the saba into a minukmok, the gentleman and the lady would get the chance to spend time together and talk about things even if the parents are just around watching them. However, there is also a superstitious belief for a couple of wannabes that are tied to making a minukmok. It is said that if the pestles used by the man and the woman hit each other while they are pounding the saba, it means that they are not meant for each other. Hence, making minukmok while courting requires skills and not only charm.
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| Pound it like it's hot! |
Today, a lot of Quezonian couples from the past generations would attest that they were products of the so-called "minukmok romance" something only a few would probably experience today.
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DeleteMisleading article..Sorry butthat is not a minukmok in Laguna, we call it nilubak na saging.. Minukmok is made of glutinous rice, alangan ng niyog with apog ng mais very similar to espasol
ReplyDelete..
Hi Ghen, this one is in Quezon province not in Laguna.
DeleteThey refer to that delicacy as minukmok.
Funny as it may seem, even in Quezon the minukmok has several names including nilubak, niyubak etc.
I got information about this from the Tourism of Quezon media tour so I think I have a reliable source.
I'm quite offended that you refer to my article as misleading without reading the article and even asking clarifications first.