BIASONG (SIBULAN, NEGROS ORIENTAL)

Biasong is a native citrus used in kinilaw, but can also be used to as a delicate flavoring for kakanin. It is mostly cultivated in the southern Philippines—especially in Mindanao (notably Butuan and Zamboanga)—but is also part of food traditions in Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and southern Cebu. Both migrants and locals recall using biasong since childhood, not only in cooking but also for washing and scenting the hair.

Botanically, biasong belongs to the papeda subgenus, a group of “primitive” citrus considered ancestors of many modern varieties, including the key lime. The tree can grow up to 9 meters, with thorny branches and small flowers. Its fruits are elongated with thick skin, containing relatively little juice and many seeds, with clearly segmented sacs typical of papedas. The leaves resemble those of kaffir lime.