Seeds of Cangkok Manis

The loveliest of pinks...these are seeds of a favourite Sarawakian vegetable, Cangkok Manis.

Cangkok is an Iban word. When the Foochows first came to Sibu they watched the Ibans foraging for vegetables. And soon they learned to eat this vegetable. According to my paternal grandfather, the Foochow pioneers quickly learned how to cultivate the cangkok manis which grew fast. They even added the vegetables to their rice. Usually they cooked soup with the vegetables.

The cangkok manis is very sweet. And may be that is why some Chinese call it sayur manis.

Usually the Foochows did not grow the cangkok manis from seeds. They found that it was easier to stick the stalks into the soil and leaves would sprout within days. The plants can grow more and more stalks and can last for more than 15 years.

More than 100 years later, we the younger generations continue to enjoy this vegetable which is now a popular restaurant dish.