V: It's All Mixed UP!

Halo Halo, Proudly served in the Philippines!

Halo-halo is one of the famous well loved dessert in the Philippines.
Halo-halo came from the Filipino word "halo" which means "to mix". Halo Halo is a favorite dessert especially enjoyed during the warm and sometimes very hot summers of the Philippines, usually on the months of March to late May where in every corner street, small entrepreneurs set up tables and sell halo halo at an affordable price. 

Halo-halo is  composed of many ingredients that differ from one place to the other, a testament of Filipino creativity when in comes to food. Basically, halo halo is made of sweetened saba (a local variety of banana/plantain ), sweetened/ripe langka(jackfruit), kaong(sugar palm), pinipig(rice crispies), colored gelatin, sago (tapioca pearls), boiled beans, ubeng halaya (sweet yam) and sugar. The ingredients are placed in a tall glass where shaved ice is added and then topped commonly with leche flan (egg custard) or ice cream, and finally, evaporated milk is poured onto the dessert. 

A spoon is used to eat Halo Halo. The spoon is used to break into the shaved ice towards the bottom then swirled to mix everything up. The mixing is aided by the milk and becomes easier to mix when the ice starts to melt. A drink of water is done afterwards.

Several known restaurants and fast food chains now have halo halo in their menus. Razon's is a restaurant that became famous for serving halo halo and now served other Filipino food favorites. Chowking is a fast food joint that also serves irresistable halo halo. If you are visiting north, in the city of San Fernando, La Union, a local restaurant called "Halo-Halo de Iloko" serves a mouth watering halo-halo in a towering glass!(Photo above is the halo halo from Halo Halo de Iloko :D)

For me, Halo-halo is one of my favorite dessert. It is readily accesible especially during summer where vendors sell  it at every corner street at very affordable prices for as low as P12 pesos. Also it is easily made and thus a favorite dessert served during summer on our family day. I once served halo-halo to one of my visiting cousin from US and he loved it and wanted more!

Truly, Halo halo is a simple, inexpensive yet enjoyable and a favorite Filipino dessert. 

So, if you are visiting the Philippines during the hot summer months, be sure to get and have a taste of a local delight, the Pinoy Halo-halo! Yum!