The quarter farthing (1)

With reference to the last part of the letter by Carmel Meilak, regarding habba and habbaziz (August 2), here are some clues which would answer his query.

Habba and habbaziz (Cyperus esculentus L. (Borg 715) have nothing in common except the radicals of habba (?.b.b.) (grain, smallest coin) and their small size!

Erin Serracino Inglott in his Il-Miklem Malti (vol. IV, p.5) under habba, states that habbaziz is a botanical term, meaning both the plant as well as its fruit, of the family cyperaceae and goes on to explain its form, where and when it grows and its edible part.

Joseph Aquilina in his Maltese-English Dictionary (Vol.1, pp.467/468), also under habba, gives its meaning as: earth almond, edible rush-nut, chufa.

Guido Lanfranco in his Duwa U Semm Fil-Hxejjex Maltin states the same thing and that the plant, though tropical, used to be cultivated in Malta. He also states that the tubers of this plant taste sweet and are good for eating. He also remembers habbaziz being sold in the streets before World War II.

I too remember these street vendors, and agree with Mr Meilak that these were of north African origin, most probably Tunisians and/or Algerians. It seems that Mr Meilak, Mr Lanfranco and myself are coevals!