The plant is known as binukaw (also spelled binucao, binukau, or bilukaw) in Tagalog, and batuan in Visayan languages. Other names include Ilocanobalakut, Bikolburagris, and Panay Visayan haras.[5] The common names are sometimes shared with other similar Garcinia species in the Philippines like Garcinia morella.
Description
Binukaw is an evergreen tree growing to a maximum height of around 25 m (82 ft) with a trunk around 40 cm (16 in) in diameter. The leaves are oblong to obovate around 5 to 12 cm (2.0 to 4.7 in) long and 4 to 7 cm (1.6 to 2.8 in) wide. The flowers are reddish to creamy white in color. The fruits are round berries, around 4 cm (1.6 in) in diameter with a juicy pulp and numerous seeds.[5][6]
The sour fruits are edible and can be eaten raw. They are also commonly used as a souring agent in traditional Filipino dishes like sinigang.[7]
'Takway' is called "pansit ng bukid" since it grows almost anywhere in the fields. In Iloilo, it is called "palutpot" or "runners" of root crops or taro. As culinary ingredient, it combines with coconut milk, like ginataang alimango. In Davao City, paksiw na takway is blended with mora moro or mackerel scad (galunggong).[8]