Where Banana Leaves Meet a Snowy Winter

Desiree is making suman (budbud).  For those unfamiliar, suman is a type of sticky rice (and coconut) cake rolled in banana or coconut leaves.  After being rolled in the leaves, the rice is boiled or steamed.

In Desiree’s version of Suman, banana leaves are preferred.

If you are from my hometown of East Helena, Montana, you know banana leaves are not common around here.  Fortunately, a couple clicks on Amazon delivered a package of neatly folded banana leaves to our door.

Getting fresh (relatively speaking) banana leaves here in the heart of a Montana winter is pretty incredible when you consider it.  Desiree also found it slightly funny.  “It’s weird to buy banana leaves,” she told me.  “They are free in the Philippines.  You just go outside an grab them.”

Watching Desiree making rolls entertained me for something over an hour.  She is meticulous in her work and the finished rolls struck me as both exotic and attractive.

Our Back Deck (Where Banana Leaves Meet the Northland Winter)

Desiree Holding a Banana Leaf

Sticky Rice Ready to Roll

Finished Suman

—Mitchell Hegman