Mustasa

Photo of mustasa (mustard) leaves by Angie Pastor. For orders in Manila, 09369815475.

The Filipino word mustasa comes from the Spanish mostaza.

Though eaten here and there, mustasa is more famous in the Philippines for being mentioned in the lyrics of the folk song Bahay Kubo, which every child in the country has committed to memory by the time they reach six years old.

A lot of Filipino students though have graduated from college without ever having actually laid eyes on mustasa leaves.

In the old days, powdered mustard was known as kiluwa, derived from the Chinese. Again very few contemporaries know what kiluwa is.