Normally I couldn’t be bothered to write or make a complete entry about halo halo. I, however, am compelled and so I decided to do something I wouldn’t do.
Halo halo has ensconced herself in every Filipino’s summer. Many consider it a queen of summer. Regal. Majestic. Humble. Simple. The halo halo can be anything she wants herself to be.
Nothing has ever towered over halo halo when it comes to cold “merienda”. Literally translated to mix-mix in English, the halo halo prides itself as a melting pot of colourful, sweet and diverse toppings. Most common are:
sweetened “saba” bananas,
boiled sweet potato,
garbanzos (chickpeas),
boiled white and red beans (preferably kidney),
winter melon,
kaong (palm fruit),
nata de coco (coconut gel),
candied jackfruit,
sweet corn kernels,
macapuno strips (coco sport),
sago (tapioca pearls),
agar-agar (gulaman) ,
cornflakes,
semi-crushed salted peanuts,
haleyang ube (purple yam jam)
and for a more special treat a scoop of any ice cream, a delicate rectangular serving of caramel custard (leche flan) and a sprinkling of either pinipig (rice crispies)., served in a tall glass or bowl.
These are arranged on top of shaved ice or crushed ice. The last two vital ingredients (yes, there’s more) would be the evaporated milk and sugar. Whose job is to blend the ingredients altogether in a creamy-sweet delight that is the envy of every (among others) coco-pandan, mais con hielo, saba con hielo and my simple but only favourite: milkshake.
It is not necessary to have all of these ingredients at once. Every individual may choose according to his taste, budget and location. Hotels and most restaurants have a more sophisticated selection.
Now tell me, why don’t I like halo-halo?
It has all the ingredients that I like, individually.
Right, I got it.
Oh, right, our neighbouring Asian countries each has their own similar dessert.
Ais kacang – a similar dessert from Malaysia and Singapore
Cendol – a similar dessert from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore
Sâm bổ lượng – a similar dessert from Vietnam
Kakigōri – a similar dessert from Japan
Baobing – a similar dessert from China
Patbingsu – a similar dessert from Korea
***
This is an off topic.
I have fallen in love with Ed Sheeran’s “Lego House” single. Rupert Grint (my favourite amongst the Harry Potter casts) may have something to do with it but I’m certain that the song alone is more than enough to make me swoon. Really it hits real hard.
