Food trip: Kiping

Have you ever tried eating a decoration in your house? I have...

Kiping

Now before you judge me as a weirdo, let me first tell you about the decoration that I ate...

Kiping of Lucban

Check out those colorful chandelier-like decorations... They taste good...


This brightly colored leaf-shaped decorative ornament is called a kiping. Nope, it is not made of plastic but of rice paste. It is considered an integral part of the San Isidro Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon.

So how is a kiping made?

He'll show us how...

Kiping ingredients...

Making a kiping is a process called pagkikipi. One must first collect mature leaves of either the kabal, cocoa, or umbrella tree. These leaves will be used as molds for the kiping, hence its shape. Each leaf can be used three times (you'll find out why later.)

Choose a leaf...

cut the leaf to make it fit your steamer

prepare the rice paste

Put the food coloring in the paste...

Now to make the rice paste... Soak the rice for two hours until it becomes soft then ground it with water until it becomes paste-like. Add at least three packets of food coloring and 1/2 teaspoon of rock salt for every ganta of rice. Speaking of rice, it is said that the laon variety of rice is the best to use in making kiping. According to the master makikipis, the laon rice prevents unnecessary cracking of the kiping. On the other hand, superstitious folks believe that the magkikipi should avoid talking while making the paste because talking will make the kipings crack.

Cover the leaf with the rice paste

Place it in the steamer...

Take it out when ready and dry it...

Going back to the colored rice paste, it is then spread on the surface (preferably the top part) of your chosen leaf. Sometimes, the leaf is trimmed to a manageable size before the paste is spread on it. Then it is steamed for at least 30 minutes. After being taken out of the steamer, the leaf is dried until it is ready for peeling.

Peel it from the leaf... 

 The peeled part is the kiping.  The leaves, on the other hand, can be used two more times before they could be "retired". Now regarding the peeled part or the kiping, it is piled up on top of each other and compressed by means of placing a weight on top of the pile for half a day. 

Kiping chips

 You may choose to cook the kiping as rice chips (then eat it with dips) or make it as a decoration to your home first as a chandelier. Either way, it will always end up in one place one day... your stomach.

 Overall, it may sound weird to eat a decoration in your home but I assure you, it's one heck of a delicious treat. 

Location: Quezon, Philippines

Comments

Post a Comment

Book your hotel thru KLOOK

Klook.com
Subscribe and get updated with the latest travel articles of The Backpack Adventures

Popular posts from this blog

Patungan Beach - Cavite

Image
Located in Barangay Sta. Mercedes (Patungan) in Maragondon , Cavite, Patungan Beach is one of the province's little-known beach destinations. It is situated inside Patungang Cove which is south of Mt. Palay Palay which is also known as Pico de Loro . Patungan Beach Patungan Beach Details The area near Patungan Beach is home to about 100 - 200 families, most of which are fishermen hence the alternate name of the barangay - Patungan Fishing Village . According to the locals that I interviewed, their place was once an isolated  barangay , reachable only by boat, horse, or foot. Thankfully, with the completion of the  Nasugbu - Ternate Highway  and  Kaybiang Tunnel , the barangay was finally connected to the province. However, there is still no direct public transportation system that serves the area coming from Manila.  Patungan Beach - Maragondon, Cavite The beach from a distance Check out these photos of Patungan Beach: Just a heads up, ...
Keep reading

Imus City Plaza - Cavite

Image
Located in the center of the Poblacion or town proper of Imus City in the province of Cavite, Imus City Plaza is one of the city's scenic and historical attractions. Imus City Plaza Imus City Plaza Details This plaza is located in front of the equally historical Imus Cathedral and Imus City Hall . Imus City Plaza is also the first place to greet you if you're heading to the cathedral via Sapinoso Street.  Imus City Plaza - Imus City, Cavite General Licerio Topacio The general guarding the flag Checking out each angle of the monument Imus City Plaza History Imus City Plaza is probably easily remembered because of the monument with two vintage artillery flanking it. The monument stands as an honor to the children of Imus who joined the fight for the independence of the country against Spain. As for the man standing on top of the monument, he is General Licerio Topacio . He is one of the most notable sons of Imus. He is famously known for honorably declinin...
Keep reading

Gifu Castle - Gifu

Image
Located in the city of Gifu in Gifu Prefecture, Gifu Castle ( 岐阜城 )  is a mountaintop castle that stands as one of the symbols of the city.  Gifu Castle  ( 岐阜城 ) Gifu Castle History Built by the Nikaido Clan during the Kamakura Period sometime between 1201 to 1204, Gifu Castle was once called Inabayama Castle by its original owners. It was a formidable castle which overlooks the surrounding countryside of then Mino Province. On September 13, 1567, the castle and its defenders under the leadership of Saito Tatsuoki of the Saito Clan came under siege by the numerically superior army of Oda Nobunaga.  Gifu Castle - Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture Gifu Castle as displayed at Mt. Kinka Ropeway Station Make sure to get some brochures at Kinkazan Ropeway Station We rode the ropeway up Mt. Kinka Despite its strategical and strong position on top of Mt. Inaba, the castle still fell to the hands of Oda Nobunaga due to his cunning strategy of sending in si...
Keep reading

10 Things to Do in Otaru City

Image
10 Things to Do in Otaru City Otaru City ( 小樽市 ) is a port city in the Shiribeshi Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan . The name is believed to be of Ainu origin. It possibly means " river running through the sandy beach ”. For those planning to visit Otaru City to check what it has to offer, here are the 10 Things to Do in Otaru City : Otaru City manhole covers 1. Take a picture of Otaru’s unique manhole covers . So far, I have seen 2 unique manhole covers. The first one is the one with the otter and the other is the one that features the Otaru Canal. However, there is a colored version of the latter located near the LeTao Main Store. Aside from that, there is an  Otaru Pokemon Manhole Cover  featuring the Alolan Vulpix with what appears to be stained glass windows as his backdrop. Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch 2. Visit the  Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch  and learn about the golden age of banking in Otaru City. You can watch the map projection on the ceiling of i...
Keep reading

Embetsu Shrine Revisited Winter 2022

Image
On August 12, 2022 , during my 41st week in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme , my family and I had the pleasure of visiting Embetsu Shrine for the first time as part of our five-day "Drive Up North" Road Trip . Later, on December 22, 2022 , I had the opportunity to revisit the shrine. What made this return visit particularly special was experiencing it during the winter season. Intrigued by how the shrine would be transformed by snow, I made the trip after finishing my duties at Embetsu Agricultural High School . As expected, the shrine exuded a captivating charm, its grounds adorned in a blanket of snow, truly a magical sight to behold. Embetsu Shrine Revisited Winter 2022 Embetsu Shrine details ( Winter ) For those who weren’t able to read my previous article about Embetsu Shrine , you might want to click this 👉 LINK 👈 to read about the history of the shrine. Regardless, here’s a summary of it. Embetsu Shrine - Embetsu town, Hokkaido Prefecture Embetsu Shrine ...
Keep reading

Shoboji and Gifu Daibutsu - Gifu

Image
Located in 8 Daibutsu-cho Gifu City in Gifu Prefecture, Shoboji ( 正法寺 )  is known as the temple which houses one of the three largest Daibutsu or Great Buddha statues in Japan . Shoboji   ( 正法寺 ) Shoboji and Gifu Daibutsu History Officially named Kinpouzan Shobouji (Temple) and also called Shohoji , Shoboji was first established in 1638. It joined the Obaku school in 1692. Although the temple incorporated many aspects of the Obaku school, its architectural style and sacraments are in the Chinese style.  Shoboji - Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture Shoboji as seen from the road Buy your entrance ticket here. It's only 200 yen. Here's what appears to be a tsukubai but could also be a chozubachi or purification font As was already written, Shoboji houses one of the largest statues of Buddha in Japan. It was the 11th head priest of the temple, Ichyuu (Ichu) who planned for the construction of Gifu's Great Buddha in 1790. Sadly, he never saw the completed Bud...
Keep reading

Myozenji - Gifu

Image
Located in 679 Ogi-machi, Shirakawago in Gifu Prefecture, Myozenji  ( 明善寺 ) is a historic religious establishment found in the historic village of Shirakawago .  Myozenji  ( 明善寺 ) Myozenji History Myozenji Temple was established in 1748 to provide the village people with a place to practice their religion and also to give spiritual protection to the village. For half a century,  the small temple  housed the mo nks who catered untiringly to the spiritual needs of the locals. In 1800, the temple was finally improved with the construction of the main hall, monk's residence, and the bell tower gate. Myozenji - Shirakawago, Gifu Prefecture Myozenji's Hondo Myozenji's bell tower Myozenji is surrounded by nature. Check out this small frog I saw near the temple ...and this lizard too! What makes the Myozenji unique is its thatched roof which uses the same materials as that of the famed gassho-style houses of the village. Like the t...
Keep reading

Takayama City - Gifu

Image
Located in the northern part of Gifu Prefecture, Takayama City  ( 高山 ) is said to be in the heart of the Japanese Alps. It also currently has the largest geographic area of any municipality in Japan . Takayama City  ( 高山 ) Takayama City History Takayama City is also called Hida-Takayama in reference to the old Hida province and also to differentiate it from other places in Japan with the same name. The name  Takayama  means "tall mountain", probably in reference to the mountains that surround it.  Takayama City's famed Sanmachi Suji Part of the town near the Old Town District as seen from our room in the hotel Walking the streets of Takayama City Crossing the Nakabashi Bridge The history of the creation of Takayama started with its establishment in 1889. During that time, it was the most populous municipality in Gifu Prefecture. In 1936, the town merged with the town of Onada forming the city of Takayama. It continued to grow as it annexed ...
Keep reading

List of Festivals in the Philippines: April

Image
Do you want to witness and be part of the exciting and colorful cultural activities in the Philippines in this month of  April ?   Please check out the list of popular fiestas or festivals happening this April . Rodeo Masbateno Festival Location:  Masbate City, Province of Masbate Details:  The festival is celebrated every 9th to 14th of April. Its highlights are the bull riding competition, lassoing, 2-4 carambola, and bulldogging. This festival showcases the "cowboy skills" of the Masbatenos. Kangayedan Festival Location:  Pagudpod, Province of Ilocos Norte Details:  The festival is celebrated every 22nd to the 26th of April. Its highlight is the parade of cultural dances. This festival's objective is to safeguard the ecological beauty from destruction and also to renew the vow of the townspeople to replenish and protect the environment.  Butanding Festival Location:  Donsol, Province of Sorsogon Details:  The festival is celeb...
Keep reading

10 Things to Do in Abashiri City

Image
10 Things to Do in Abashiri City Abashiri ( 網走市 ) is a city in the Okhotsk Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan . There are several ideas as to how the name 'Abashiri' came to be. It was believed to be derived from the Ainu language, like apa-siri which means leakage/ground, and ci-pa-sir  which translates to the land we discovered. For those planning to visit Abashiri City to check what it has to offer, here are the 1 0 Things to Do in Abashiri City : Abashiri manhole cover 1. Take a picture of Abashiri’s unique manhole cover . So far, I have seen 1 unique manhole cover. It is common and can be seen around Abashiri City proper.  Abashiri Roadside Station / Road Station Ryuhyo-kaido Abashiri 2. Visit the  Abashiri Roadside Station  /  Road Station Ryuhyo-kaido Abashiri  ( 道の駅 流氷街道網走 ) and buy products that are made in the city. You can also get the roadside station stamp here for the Hokkaido Stamp rally booklet. Don’t forget to take photos of the Abashiri Po...
Keep reading