Glossary B
Balimbing is the Filipino word for Carambola; also known as Star Fruit.
Balimbing is a light green to yellowish tropical fruit which has many angles and sides and has a star shape when cut across the grain. Its fruit is juicy and tastes like the combined taste of plums, grapes and apples. Some green varieties when not yet fully ripe taste sour. Because of its star shape, it is mostly used for decorative purposes, mostly for decorating cocktail drinks and desserts.
Balisungsung refers to a Filipino native food made of white rice in or wrapped in banana leaves. Balisungsung is said to be the specialty of the Malolos in the province of Bulacan. In Bulacan province, Balisungsung is a staple food and mostly seen served during fiestas, special ocassions, big parties and family gatherings. Balisungsung is like an individual serving of rice wrapped beautifully in banana leaves, each wrapped serving is equivalent to a scoop of rice.
Balisungsung is not dessert or a snack. It is intended to be eaten with favorite Filipino food dish as a substitute for normal everyday plain steaming white rice.