Summer Street Food

Summertime!


With temperature in the Philippines rising to as much as 36 degree celsius, it's amazing how we Filipinos cope with the summer heat. Our cheap refreshments and desserts found just anywhere in the streets are meant to cool the locals and visitors alike in the molten summer air. Here is my list of must-try Filipino Summer Street Foods:

HALO HALO

Halo-halo (from the Tagalog word "halo" which means "mix") is basically a mixture of sweet preserved ingredients such as red beans, jackfurit, coconut meat (macapuno), pounded dried rice (pinipig), sweet yam , milk/leche flan, shreds of sweetened plantain/banana and potato tops, filled with crushed ice, milk (or coconut milk) and sometimes topped with ice cream. Usually served in tall, clear glasses that show its colorful contents, Halo-halo is perhaps the most popular Filipino summer concoction! Usually sold at a chesp price of Php20 or $0.50, Halo-halo is a sure hit!


SORBETES

The Filipino sorbetes, or sometimes referred to as "dirty ice cream" is actually homemade ice cream sold from pushcarts on the streets. What I love about dirty ice cream is that it has a smooth, milky flavor and not very creamy (which oftentimes just worsens your thirst). Sorbetes usually comes in various flavors such as Mango, Ube, Chocolate, Cookies and Cream, and my ultimate favorite Keso (cheese). Placed in an ordinary cone, it is usually sold at P10 or $0.25, though an upgrade to a sugar cone is also available at P15.


MAIS CON YELO

Mais con Yelo, which literally means corn with ice, is another popular summer dessert among locals. It is a mix of shaved ice, sugar, milk and corn kernels. Sold at P20 or $0.50, it is a variation of the more renowned Halo-halo to the delight of the more conservative sweet-eaters.


SAGO'T GULAMAN

Sago't Gulaman is another popular refreshment. In neighborhood stores, it is ladled into plastic cups, while in street stands it is simply poured into plastic bags and provided with straw and sold at P5. It can be taken as an after-meal beverage-dessert, a snack or a drink to accompany another merienda item. Sago, combined with the famous gelatine (gulaman in Tagalog) is made from seaweed called agar-agar can be eaten as a gelatin dessert with or without fruits.

You see, the Philippines does not merely offer lovely beaches for one to celebrate summertime here. These foods are just in our streets to entertain your taste buds, and touch your hearts! =D