Gin Pol (Nypa fruiticans)
It is from this tree that Gintota got its name.
Uses: The long, feathery leaves of the Nipa palm are used by local
populations as roof material for thatched houses or dwellings. The leaves are
also used in many types of basketry and thatching. The inflorescence can be
tapped before it blooms to yield a sweet, edible sap collected to produce a
local alcoholic beverage called Tuba. Tuba is also stored in Tapayan (balloon vases)
for several weeks to make vinegar in the Philippines, commonly knowned as
Sukang Paombong (pure vinegar made from the province of Paombong, Bulacan).
Young shoots are also edible and the flower petals can be infused to make an
aromatic tisane. Attap chee ("chee" meaning "seed" in
several Chinese dialects) is a name for the immature fruits -- sweet,
translucent, gelatinous balls used as a dessert ingredient in Malaysia and
Singapore. On the islands of Roti and Savu, Nipah sap is fed to pigs during the
dry season. This is said to impart a sweet flavour to the meat. The young
leaves are used to wrap tobacco for smoking.
http://www.agri.ruh.ac.lk/medicinalplants/medicinal_plants/families/palmae/plants/gin_pol.html
