An independent journal of everyday life
Stories gathered under the afternoon sun.
Kahel follows the people, places, meals, and small rituals that bring warmth and meaning to ordinary days.
01
Field notes
Observations from streets, gardens, and open roads.
02
At the table
Recipes, ingredients, and the stories shared over food.
03
Made by hand
Conversations with artists, growers, and makers.
04
Near & far
Patient guides to places worth knowing slowly.
Featured stories
A closer look at familiar places.
The archive
Collected slowly, shared freely.
Each issue brings together essays, conversations, recipes, and photographs from contributors close to home and farther afield.
48
Long-form stories
16
Contributing voices
7
Places explored
To know a place, begin with the things people do when they think no one is watching.
Mara Villanueva
From “The Last Light
on Escolta”
Meet the growers
In the foothills of Batangas, three families tend small orchards planted across generations.
Save the peel
A kitchen notebook for turning rinds into marmalade, cordial, seasoning, and candied fruit.
Study the color
Artists and dyers reflect on orange pigments, fading light, and colors borrowed from nature.
Share the harvest
Neighbors remember market mornings, backyard trees, and fruit passed over garden walls.
About the journal
A record of things worth noticing.
“Kahel” is a familiar word for orange in the Philippines. It is also our reminder to pay attention: to color, season, memory, and the quiet knowledge held in everyday routines. This journal is an open notebook for those observations.
Place
Food
Craft
Memory
Latest stories
Notes from near and far.
Field guide
A few citrus notes.
Simple answers gathered for the season—from choosing fruit at the market to making use of every peel.
When are local citrus fruits in season?
Harvest times vary by variety and region. Calamansi can fruit throughout the year, while many larger citrus varieties are most abundant during the cooler months.
How do you choose good fruit at the market?
Look for fruit that feels heavy for its size, with fragrant skin and no soft patches. Small marks on the peel rarely affect the flesh inside.
What can be made with leftover peel?
Washed peel can flavor sugar, salt, vinegar, tea, and baked goods. It can also be simmered into marmalade or candied for a simple sweet.
Can citrus trees grow in small spaces?
Many varieties grow well in large containers with strong sunlight, good drainage, and regular feeding. Smaller trees still need room for their roots and canopy.