My (Buto ng) Kasoy.. (Cashew nuts)

This is not to depict how far has my tummy gone. This photo  honestly shows that
 I'm just having photo ops and not pretending to buy.  

Every time kasoy (buto ng kasoy or cashew nuts) becomes part of conversation, I always have this statement "That's our favorite, my wife and I even had fights because of that."

I had this chance of visiting the cashew nut factory in Bagac, Bataan for purpose I can not disclose due to confidentiality. It was sometime in summer. I frequently passed by the area and the factory is closed these days due off season. The process, upon my observation is easy. There was no complicated procedure or technical equipment involved. What I remembered were, naghihimay na mga tao sa bilao and oven which is nothing different with what we see from bakeries. Packing/packaging is old school. From the looks of it, it's as simple as filling them inside the plastics (with assigned weights), and seal them.

I was able to speak with the manager for the prospect of getting more content for this blog entry. From the familiar signs hanging on the ceiling, I brought out the common knowledge that roosters get sick out of cooking cashew. He shrugged off the idea and even pointed that signs I mentioned. Those were champion trophy-banners from cock derby. See.  

Cashew not is not an early favorite (para lang contest?). The fondness for it came late basically because of its price. Early memory of it was on one All Saints' Day in Abucay. My sister saw cashew nuts sold at the  sidewalk. It was like placed in a basin. P5 worth of cashew is displayed in a very small cup. She ordered one cup, while taking one piece of cashew from the basin, expecting of a free taste. The vendor noticed the gesture and took away one piece from the cup of cashew before putting it on the small paper pouch. I also remember about the cashew tree in front of our grade two classroom. Under that was where the mamang sorbeto places his cart to sell dirty ice cream.

I'm not if sure if the one I've been to is really the kasuyan ( cashew field, if that's how it is called). I had this chance of seeing Barangay Binuangan (a coastal barangay which can be accessed for P300 tricycle ride) for another official business trip. There were hundreds of cashew trees and we stopped over. The group I was with, picked fruits because of its medicinal properties.  

Unconsciously, being native product and pride of Bataan (Morong and Bagac particularly), kasoy has become status symbol. If at one time you received it as gift, then you must be a distinguished one. Uraro pa lang natatanggap ko, but that's a different story. I'm excited over instances of my wife attending medical mission because of the prospect that Galing Bataan gift packs be given away. The package includes Bataan native sweets and of course, cashew nuts.

Kasoy factory in Bagac Bataan

The status symbol also goes the other way. You're likely to be tagged as generous if at one point (or should  in lots instances) given kasoy as gift. Anyways, I have yet to be of that level.

Bagac and Morong were frequent destinations of my official business, to my wife's delight. She expects that I'll bring home even with just the smallest pack but to her upset, I usually don't. Why would we have fights because of it? In instances that she goes there, she buys separate packs for each of us. Apparently, I'd consume my entire share ahead of her. She would not share hers - even if I beg.

Other provinces may also claim to have it as native product. I must tell you that we have the best. They may taste alike but as some people say that it does not have the itchy after effect. I'm just so sorry to forget the name of the establishment I visited for the free advertisement.  

I implicitly insisted in this post that kasoy refers to the fruit and the nut is the kidney shape attached above it. Of course every one knows. Kaya nga hindi ba, "Isang prinsesa, nakaupo sa tasa"?