Duman Duman! Get Some Before It’s All Gone This December at Sugarleaf Makati

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Imagine a variety of grain that is planted only in a couple of weeks in select rice paddies in only a couple towns in Pampanga then harvested as the cool breeze of the holiday months sweep the rice fields. Processing this grain is a colourful undertaking in itself–from harvesting in early dawn, to winnowing, toasting and pounding to remove the chaff. For every hectare planted with this special variety yields a mere 4.5 cavans of grain while a harvest of the normal variety of rice yields up to 300 cavans.

Due to the limited harvest quantity, which was fortunately spared by the typhoons that hit Central Luzon this year, the demand for duman is much greater than the supply. However, despite its rather steep price, those who’ve enjoyed it vouch that it is worth every grain. It may be consumed by itself, rather like breakfast cereal, or taken with steaming gatas damulag (carabao milk) or tsokolate de batirol (frothy native chocolate).

Sugarleaf Makati shares this prized delicacy in limited quantities to residents of the metropolis. Together with La Moderna’s artisan bakery products as well as other carefully selected healthyummy food and non-food products.

For more information about duman, please visit http://www.asiarice.org/sections/whatsnew/Philippines136.html and for a taste of this unique delicacy, drop by Sugarleaf Makati located at the ground and second floor of the MEDICard Lifestyle Center, 51 Paseo de Roxas corner Buendia Avenue, Urdaneta Village, Makati City. Tel 812 7323. Open 8am-8pm Mondays to Fridays and til 5pm on Saturdays. Email ansongco@yahoo.com Like us on www.facebook.com/SugarleafFoodsThatNourish

Experience Duman where it is grown!

For those who want a unique truly Capampangan gustatory and cultural experience, take a 1.5 hour drive north to Santa Rita, Pampanga on 6 December for the 11th Duman Festival which has grown much since its humble beginnings. Venue at the megadike. Starts at late afternoon to evening and features food, music, dance and more food and duman!