Our biggest farmers market is known as the Downtown Phoenix Public Market and is held every Saturday morning from 8:00 until noon. The outdoor market is improving with age as more fresh food vendors are replacing the all too many craft vendors. These squash are from Tonopah Rob’s farm, we bought a couple of them along with a bag of small red onions and some basil. Maya’s Farm sold us a large bag of mizuna greens and another of arugula along with some purplish-green okra for our friend Sonal. An elderly guy was offering samples of yulu, the seed of the bonete plant – I have no idea what this really is as I cannot find a reference on the internet but they were yummy enough that we bought a bag.
I would also like to know more about "Yulu." I met the same old man at the Phoenix Market and bought some of this seed (it’s tastes pretty good), but I am unable to find anything out about it. I can find no references to the Bonete Seed.
Hello, I also was intrigued by the man with the yulu, and like you I searched the internet for some information… I found a book that explained the source of the seeds of the bonete plant (jacaratia mexicana) here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=IEBJAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA6-PA20&lpg=RA6-PA20&dq=what+is+a+bonete+plant&source=web&ots=g__VVJ8kU1&sig=ylrv0GxL0IxldmNAkiJ1FzeCWf0&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=6&ct=result#PRA6-PA20,M1
and other links to the jacaratia mexicana, the wild papaya here:
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/flora-kiuic/j/jacaratia_mexicana.html
this is a good one as it has great photos of the plant. And yes, they are good.
Hi there, my boyfriend was at the market this last week while in Phoenix. He brought home these Yulu seeds. He really thought they were good, and that I would like them. So, I have been looking on the net to find out more on how they are used. Not much yet, but I will look up the book mentioned above, thanks.
I would like to find out more on how to cook with them and that is what I am really after. The history will be a bounce!!
Thanks
Ra
I am not sure how to "ccok" with them either, but I have to tell you that they are fantastic in salads, I made a grapefruit/avocado/fennel with a bit of olive oil and s&p and they were great in that. I was thinking of using them in other dishes that require pine nuts (pignoli). I wonder how they would be in pesto? Would love to hear what you find out. Thanks.
oops, that was supposed to say "cook"….
I bought some of the Yulu as well and found I like just a handful as a snack and hunger goes away. I visited the market in Phoenix while on business and don’t live in the area. I thought I would be able to find a website to order from… yeah, that’s not happening! The man showed me pictures of where the seeds were harvested – looked like a scrawny shrub in a cave. It’s amazing there is absolutely no reference to this ‘seed of bonete’ on the internet. The label (which I kept as I finished the last seed…) says Producto Azteca del Edo. De Gro. Mex To Phx. AZ. I don’t translate well, but assume del Edo. De Gro. is some kind of clue to the origin. If someone goes back to the market and the man is still there, could you get some info from hin on how to contact and maybe ‘order’ some more? Post something here or email me? Thaks and happy yulu-ing!
I am really thrilled to find this conversation! I was beginning to think I was being scammed on the beans/seads. I agree that the taste (both salted and unsalted) are really good. Trying to get information from the older gentleman is rather trying. Wonder if I should see about a translator. He did say they were sold at Whole Foods as organic. I am gonna try that next.
http://www.yucatanadventure.com.mx/yucatan-flora.htm
They are the seeds of the wild Papaya. Eaten all throughout the Central American and Northern region of South America.
I went to this market today and bought the seeds. I have not found much on the internet even a year after this original post but I did find the seeds online. Same packaging as I bought in Phoenix.
http://shop.nahuacalli.org/Yulu-Seeds-YULU01.htm