The Wild Harvest: Looking for Tonkin Jasmine on a Weekend

My weekend started with a challenging but rewarding climb on a mountain near my locality. Since it was so cloudy as I started my ascend, the air was cool and because sometimes it's drizzling lightly and the rewarding view of the neighboring vilages can be seen from the topmost part of the slope.

As I reached the most elevated ground on my village, I stumbled upon something that is truly special for a commoner like me, a sprawling vine with clusters of fragrant, pale yellow flowers. I immediately recognized it as Tonkin jasmine, commonly called in my village as "bagbagcong," "dukep," and "sabsabidukong." Among the three common local names, the name "bagbagcong' is the most common as it's literally translated in Ilocano dialect as "piercing or to slay by means of a dagger or knife," probably due to its dagger shaped pods, of which this plant bears edible flowers and pods.

The inner beauty of this vine is that both its flowers and pods are edible. The delicate flowers can be used in stir fries or soups, while the younger pods which resemble a flat okra can be grilled or blanched then dip into soy sauce or spicy vinegar and can also be added to stewed vegetables.

This weekend climb was a great reminder of the hidden treasures our local environment holds which in turn gives a privilege to explore and learn about these plants and I am excited to share this experience with the ASEAN Hive Community. I hope this one inspires you to appreciate the natural beauty around you.

Have a safe rainy day to everyone!🤗❤️🫰

▶️