Ti Leaf Preparation
Let's say you've read up on the amazing utility and versatility of ti leaves and are now itching to get your hands on some for a recipe. That's when it strikes you--you've never seen ti leaves for sale at the local supermarket.
The best way to get ti leaves is local style: from a friend or "uncle." They grow in people's yards or--and you didn't hear this from me--along the sides of some public roads and parks. (Mālama the plants! Don't take too much.) Look for large, outer leaves, free from major blemishes and with a healthy green color. Grab the stem near where it joins the trunk and pull downwards. Never yank sideways or upwards as this can break the plant trunk.
Most florists will also have ti leaves on hand to sell, already cleaned and ready. It's not as satistfying to buy leaves from the florist, but sometimes convenience wins out. If you live in a different state, don't worry! Banana leaves can be substituted for ti leaves without adverse effects. Check the freezer case of larger Asian supermarkets for bundles of frozen banana leaves.
Now that you have a handful of ti leaves, we need to get them ready for use. It's easiest to wash them with the stem still intact. The stems tend to be dirty and often harbor ants. Once they're all clean, we're going to "de-bone" them to make them more pliable.
Pick up a leaf (lā`i) and hold it in front of you, tip (wēlau) towards the sky and shiny side facing away. Hold your fingers against the bone (`iwi) of the leaf about 1/3 of the way up from the stem (kumu), from the back of the leaf. This sounds confusing, but look at the position of my hands in the photo and imagine where the index fingers are pressing.
Holding the leaf
Bend the leaf forward towards you to crease the bone then bend it sharply away, pushing with your fingers against the bone to cause it to snap and separate from the leaf, trying not to break through the leaf. Run your fingers down the shiny side of the bone towards the stem to cause it to separate from the leaf. It's normal to ruin a few leaves as you practice, but you'll get the knack of it.
Removing the bone
Always prep a few more leaves than you need, because a few will inevitably split or tear along the way. If you don't need every single leaf for your recipe, use the remainders as table decorations or as bedding on a serving platter. If you're not going to use your leaves right away, you can freeze them for later.
Next up: recipes for laulau and baked fish wrapped in ti leaves.
This post is a continuation of my long-neglected Hawaiian luau series.
Hi Alan,
Thanks for giving out lessons on how to prepare ti leaves for use in making laulau. I should have done it, but was too lazy. Looking forward to your Hawaiian food posts.
Reid, working with ti leaves is one of those simple things that I often take for granted. Hopefully a few people will find my explanations helpful? More luau posts coming soon.
Very good lesson Alan, Very similar to banana leaves. What taste do ti leaves impart?
Alan - Excellent post! I think when you've done it so many times you do take the preparation for granted. As for Ti leaves on the Mainland, I've given up getting them from florists. At times they have been "treated", or stored with other items and have a really strange flavor/scent associated with them.
Gia- they impart... leafy-ness? I'm not sure how to describe it, because the effect is subtle, more smell than taste.
Kirk- Yuck, I don't blame you for steering clear of treated leaves. They aren't expected to be used for food in that case, so who knows WHAT chemicals they've drenched them in. Around here, I'm guessing the same treatments aren't necessary because florists can always get fresh leaves.
hiya--i just wanted to agree with kirk, as the ti leaves sent to the mainland are sprayed with an herbicide/pesticide before being shipped off. better to just buy one of those little plantlets at the airport and stick it in a pot when you get home!
Thanks for the warning Santos. If you're getting ti leaves from anywhere you want to make sure they are food-safe and haven't been drenched in anything that will cause kindey failure or the growth of a third arm.