You have to taste a culture to understand it – Deborah Cater
1. Are you a food lover?
2. Dessert lover?
3. Do you love trying different native foods or delicacies from different countries, cities or provinces?
Or let me ask you these questions that will probably make you realize that IT’S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES!
4. Do you know any native delicacies from the Philippines?
5. Have you ever wondered trying or tasting one?
- If yes, is it worth the try? Was it delicious that you can definitely tell everyone that it was the best native delicacies ever? Read this blog and you’ll probably love to try more native delicacies which can only be found in the Philippines
- If no / not yet, I dare you. Try, eat, taste and understand why it’s really a must when you’re in the Philippines.
Well, that’s just few of the question that pops up in our mind as we travel, right? Now, let me introduce you one of the integral parts of Filipino culture, the “kakanin / native delicacies”.
Kakanin or native delicacies are snacks made from rice flour, sweet or glutinous rice, pure coconut, coconut milk, cassava, sugar, coloring, lye water, etc., or any combination of the recipes mentioned above. It can also be sweet munchies, chewy type delicacy, or desserts mostly cooked in low fire to assure the perfect touch of different colors, texture, shape and balance of sweetness.
Most kakanin can be found all throughout the Philippines, but mostly prepared during Christmas, New Year, birthday, fiesta, or any other special occasions. It is also Filipinos’ favorite snack during afternoon.
Just in case you really want to taste, discover and witness how Filipinos make it since you can’t just simply get enough, provinces like Laguna, Quezon, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Ilocos, Bicol and Abra are your best travel spots, though some provinces boast their very own kakanin. And for those who just simply loved to visit different food stores, there’s nothing to worry about as native delicacies, especially the famous ones are widely sold in the markets.
Now, enough about the descriptions and explanations. Let’s make it real now because just like you, I am already craving too.
Listed below are PHILIPPINES‘TOP 10 KAKANIN / NATIVE DELICACIES:
1. PUTO - A type of steamed rice cake with a piece of cheese at the top. It is usually eaten with dinuguan or pancit and is available in different colors such as white, yellow, pink, green, and violet. It can be bought in different markets, vendors selling along the roads, or you can just cook it at home.
2. BIKO - A sweet rice cake made of glutinous rice, coconut milk, and brown sugar usually topped with latik (syrup made from coconut milk and sugar). In other places like Southern Luzon, biko is also known as sinukmani.
4. BIBINGKA - A type of rice cake made from rice flour, baking soda (optional), coconut milk/water, eggs, salted eggs (for toppings) and a pinch of salt. You can always eat bibingka especially during Christmas season and New Year.
5. KUTSINTA - A type of steamed rice cake made from a mixture of rice flour, brown sugar, lye water, and yellow food coloring, topped with small pieces of fresh grated coconut mostly eaten as snack.
6. SAPIN SAPIN - A layered of glutinous rice made from rice flour, cocnut milk, sugar, water, flavoring, and coloring. Sapin sapin is usually sprinkled with latik or toasted dried coconut flakes on top. It is sometimes made in different flavors mixed in each layer such as ube halaya (purple layer), langka (yellow or orange layer), and plain flavored (white layer).
7. MAJA BLANCA - A dessert made primarily from coconut milk, condensed milk, and kernel corn (optional), usually served during fiestas, holidays, and Christmas. This delicacy is also known as coconut pudding.
8. PICHI PICHI - A gelatinous dessert made from grated cassava, sugar, pandan essence (optional), and grated coconut for additional flavor. Pichi pichi is also available in different colors such as yellow, pink, violet, and green.
9. PALITAW - A small, flat, sweet rice cake made from washed soaked and ground sticky rice dipped in grated coconut, and presented with a separate mix of sugar and toasted sesame seeds.
10. CASSAVA CAKE - A Vietnamese cake made from grated cassava, sugar, coconut milk, and a small amount of salt. Cassava cake can be baked or steamed, depending on your preference.
So how was your glimpse of experience? Isn’t all the kakanin really looks presentable and delicious?
Well, that’s just few of the well-known delicacies that can be found all throughout the Philippines. Others are sumang moron, tupig, binallay, alupi, puto-pao, and so much more so don’t forget to taste them all!
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