Legend from the Tagalog People of Paete, Laguna

The little town of Paete, on the southern and western shore of Laguna de Bay, produces more lanzones[1] than any other town in the province. Steamers call daily at her wharves for the fruits which have made her famous. In the church of this town may still be seen the image of the mother of God, the Virgin Mary, leading her child. One evening a long time ago it was discovered that the beautiful image was missing from the custom place in the church[2]. The news spread like wildfire, and all the people were in great amazement and consternation. While all was confusion in the town, a heavenly site was being presented in a little place outside the municipality. A beautiful woman dressed in white was walking over the grass with a child in her arms. They were going towards a lanzon tree on the other side of the meadow. The boy, who was evidently tired of being carried, asked to be put down. When the child saw the fruit scoured all over the ground, he felt very thirsty, and, picking up one of the tempting fruits, began to open it. The mother told her son that the fruit was poisonous, but the child said that he was very thirsty, and could go no further if he did not have a drink. Then the mother took the fruit from his hands, and with her delicate white fingers pinched the pulp gently. Turning to her son, she said, "Now you may take this and eat it. You will find it the most delicious and refreshing of all fruits." The child obeyed, and the fruit was indeed sweet. This is the way by which the lanzones was transformed from a poisonous, dangerous route to a sweet, delicate food. If anyone discredits this story, all he needs to do is prove its truth is to open up any lanzon he finds, and he will see without fail the fingertips of the Virgin. From Philippine Folk Literature Series: Vol. III, The Legends (2002), compiled and edited by Damiana L. Eugenio, published by The University of the Philippines Press (shopee, amazon)

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The lanzones is a fruit natively found across different countries in Southeast Asia like the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. It has been introduced in different countries in different regions in South and Southeast Asian countries, Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, and even Africa. It is also known as langsat in other countries.

Chances are, you’ve met Lanzones!

They’re so delicious, they are celebrated every year when they are in season. They’re also known as buahan or buwahan in Basilan (JS Felix Localpedia), as well as langsat in Indonesia, and langseh in Malaysia among many other names (Abdallah 2022).

Lanzones or Lansium domesticum is native to Southeast Asia, with the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand as important sources of lanzones commercially (Abdallah 2022).

Being native to the region, it has long been used as medicine to treat eye inflammation, ulcers, diarrhea, fever, flatulence, worms, insect bites, and more. In some places the fruit peel is dried and then burned to drive way mosquitoes (Abdallah 2022).

Humans aren’t the only ones who love lanzones… there is a small insect known as the lanzones scale insect that lives inside their leaves affecting lanzones production. It is known as Unaspis mabilis, because it can spread rapidly among lanzones trees, hence the word “mabilis” or fast in Tagalog! (Lit Jr. et al 2014)

So far this tiny little insect can only be found in the Philippines, but researchers believe it may have come from lanzones trees introduced from another country because of its invasive-like speed (Lit Jr. et al 2021).

Learn about Lanzones festivals happening every September to October at Filipinofood.art!

References

John Sherwin Felix, Lokalpedia, September 5, 2024 – https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=526431063094505&id=100071828474951&set=a.179932637744351

Hossam M Abdallah et al 2022 – Lansium domesticum – A Fruit with Multi-Benefits: Traditional Uses, Phytochemicals, Nutritional Value, and Bioactivities https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9002712/

Consolacion Y Ragasa et al 2006 – Antimicrobial Terpenoids from Lansium domesticum https://www.academia.edu/4287939/Antimicrobial_Terpenoids_from_Lansium_domesticum

Ireneo L Lit, Jr et al 2014 – A new species of armored scale insect (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on Lansium domesticum trees in the Philippines https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378704618_A_new_species_of_armored_scale_insect_Hemiptera_Diaspididae_on_Lansium_domesticum_trees_in_the_Philippines

“Retouched” my dad’s old photo taken in the 1930s in the US. Added lanzones and kulasisi from his home province of Camiguin.

Happy birthday Papa!

WANDER WITH ME THROUGH THE DEPTHS OF ENDLESS JOURNEYS

for my school editorial cartooning comic titled “THE ENDLESS JOURNEY OF TWO WANDERERS”

When I told people that I’m going to Bangkok, one of the many things they told me is the LANZONES. On my first day, while checking out the stalls outside the PLATINUM MALL, I saw packs of LANZONES in styro plates covered with cling wrap. The price…ranges from 150 to 250 Thai Baht for a bundle. Didn’t bother buying yet because it’s just my first day. On the very last day (thankful? for the…