Summer is officially
out. Everyone has their own way of surviving the summer heat. Swimming, staying
in front of air conditioner or fan, or getting a thirst quencher. Speaking of
thirst quencher, let’s experience another local delight. Grab a cup, let’s mix
and stir the local Filipino thirst reliever, go loco with the halo halo.
Halo means to stir but
since it is used twice, the meaning of the word halo halo is now, mixed
assorted. Halo halo is a popular Filipino dessert available all year long but,
most abundant during summer time. A mixture of shaved ice, tropical fruits,
boiled sweet beans, evaporated milk and many more, halo halo sure is the number
one choice of Filipinos in reliving and surviving the scorching hot summer days.
Mainly, the
ingredients of halo halo are fruits such as langka (jackfruit), kamote (sweet
potato), saging na saba
(sweetened plantain banana), ripe mangos, sweetened corn kernels, macapuno
(grated young coconut meat). Also this needs pinipig (rice crispies or pounded
sweetend rice), red mung beans, kaong (sugar palm), kidney beans, nata de coco
(coconut gel), gelatin, garbanzos, sago (tapioca pearls), sugar (to taste),
shaved ice, evaporated milk, ube (purple yam), leche flan (crème caramel).
There are variations
in making halo halo. Some people add scoop of ice cream on the top of their
halo halo. This was to capture the interest of western people for they are not
familiar with some of the included fruits. Since it is summer, you can see
whole in a wall stores or a table stand/stall that sell halo halo.
This wonderful dessert
sure shows the creativity and innovation of Filipino peoples. So let's taste the colorful and sweet culture of the Philippines