A Day with the Suman Ladies

      Suman is a popular Filipino delicacy. It is usually served during breakfast or any special occassion. It tastes better when dipped in sugar or hot chocolate drink.
   
      Suman-making has been our family tradition. My grandmother and great grandmother were experts at it. There is a social dimension in making this food. Usually, the friends of the family holding the event go to their house to help them prepare this food. Today I tried sneaking in our kitchen to watch the 'suman ladies' as they prepare this delicacy.

     

     Here's how to cook it.  Just combine the glutinous rice, a dash of salt, coconut milk and water in a huge pot. Let the mixture boil. Stir it well after it has boiled and let it sit under a lid for half an hour.

SUMAN-WRAPPING

Prepare banana leaves and cut them rectangularly.  Do the following steps:

     

     

1. Put the gluten in a clean banana leaf

2. Mash the gluten and roll it.  Don't use your hands! You can use the leaves in shaping it the same as above. You can watch the video at the end of this entry as well. 

3. Finish it by wrapping it and folding the ends of the leaf.

     I tried wrapping one. It was a FAILURE because the leaf got ripped. I silently watched one of them as she was wrapping hers. You gotta watch this clip: