Singapore may be clean but not eco friendly. Its disturbing to see our supermarkets freely dispensing plastic grocery bags. Pulau Ubin is no exception with its rubbish bins overflowing during weekends with litters along cycling tracks.
We were reminded an era before us where rubbish were nearly all organic waste when food are wrapped with broad leaves. The friendly malay lady would cook delicious mee goreng served on freshly cut banana leaves for us .
Traditional meal served on banana leaf
One time she ran out of banana leaves and used another substitute. Its broad leaves and its abundance make it suitable to wrap fish and food in wet markets. They are familiar to every army conscripts which is probably why they are not common any more.
Often abbrev. as CB leaf. mil. slang The large, oval, prominently-veined leaf of a plant, Dillenia suffructicosa, with showy yellow flowers (sometimes called the CB plant), poss. known in Malay as simpoh (simpuh, simpur) ayer (but see quot. 1955 below), the split stalk of which is said to resemble the vulva. It is usu. avoided by soldiers for camouflage purposes. Link
CB Leaf with its embarrassing end trimmed off.
Another leaf used for wrapping steaming hot food and for its excellent flavor enhancing is the betel nut frond. Locals called them “Opeh” leaves. These palm trees used to be abundant in Pulau Ubin. They need lots of sunlight to thrive and numbers are declining due to competition from fast growing trees and creepers. You can find healthy specimens at Chek Jawa near the observation tower.
Betel nut tree
Food wrapped with betel nut frond base.
Petiole-base of palm frond
Rice dumplings or “Bak Chang” are wrapped tightly in bamboo leaves, tied up with strings and cooked in boiling cauldrons of water. In Pulau Ubin you can find different varieties of bamboo trees also.
Traditional ‘Nonya changs’ also use giant pandan leaves for wrapping. The leaves are taken from the same family with broader leaves. You can find a lone one beside the ponds along Jalan Ubin.
Giant pandan tree.
Useful links – Good Morning Yesterday
