Hello everyone! Let me take you in the Philippines and share to you the famous and best pampalamig (cold dessert) in our country!

•Dirty ice cream -it’s not really dirty. This name was given to play a role to lure the children from asking money to buy this ice cream in a cart when its bell rings and passes in front of their houses.

•Cold drinks with gelatin -this is an old version of milk tea that are also in different flavors.

Photo credits to Sugbo.ph

Philippines is a tropical and maritime country which also known has relatively high temperature and so to beat the heat, our ancestors made a lot of these pampalamig that made us a big fan until how many years had passed and now are in different kind of flavors and ways of improvement.

This has been one of the best business to start especially in summer days where every corner of street foods area have different varieties of these cold sweets. Even a small business capital can make its profit grow as the ingredients are just so cheap and easy to find. And as for a vendor or owner of this kind of business, everything will just matter on how you’ll make it delicious yet have it in friendliest price. Also, product presentation is a MUST to attract more customers.

Whose eyes will never be drawn with these colorful cold treats? Adults nor kids couldn’t even take resist with these yums. Including the foreigners never missed the chance to try these delicious treats whenever they visit our country. And it would be more interesting and fun when these stalls will be filled with a lot of foods and drinks when dusk came. Also, it is the time when everyone is free from work and can spend free time with their group of friends, partners and or family.

• Cold drinks with gelatin

• Sweet ice scrambles

• Dirty ice cream

• Ice candy

Photo credits to Sugbo.ph

And having a place to live in countryside is the best, too. The countless coconut palm tress that you can give yourself a shade can also give you a bunch of young coconuts to enjoy as well! And I’m so happy with this staycation at my grandpa’s place because I can finally take a city break.

Almost everyday is a coconut-day for me and its juice satisfies my thirst and I can’t ask for anything more but this! After eating raw young coconuts, my Aunt and I planned to make it as her home business since life is getting tougher these days through pandemic.

Then from there, we decided to make it as palamig -buko (young coconut) flavored ice candy. And to make it, we harvested these young coconuts at my grandpa’s backyard which he planted in his younger days.

Scraping its jelly-like meat is the most satisfying part to do after segregating its juice. Then, stored it in refrigerator.

While stored inside the refrigerator, we mixed cassava starch in 4 cups of water. This helps to have a smooth texture when the ice candy is set like you won’t feel any ice crushing in your mouth while eating it.

After mixing it in water, pour it in a pot which has 2 cups of water and wait until boiled. When boiled, add 1 can of condensed milk and 1/2 kg of white sugar. Mix thoroughly until sugar melted.

After few minutes of stirring, cool it down in a bowl and stir it continuously while transferring.

While waiting for it to cool, mix the scraped young coconuts to condensed and evaporated milk (1 can each).

And before starting to packing process, we make sure that everything is sanitized or clean. We also wash our hands every before and after packing each ice candy. Also, masks and hair net has worn during this procedure.

Having same and exact measurements in packing each quantity is also a priority in making business. So, each has 1tbs of scraped coconut’s meat.

Then, 1 medium-sized ladle of the mixed milk and cassava starch.

Afterwards, make a tight tie after scooping in all the ingredients.

Then repeat the same process until done and cut the extra cellophane.

Lastly, store it inside the freezer overnight and ready to sell for PHP5 each (USD 0.098)! 🤗

Making it was fun and it’s even more fun to see the kids’ smile and getting back to buy again because their parents wanted it and it reminds them of their childhood -they said.

You see, Pampalamig(s) aren’t just made to beat the heat. It is also made to enjoy the fun times with family or friends and create some unforgettable memories which goes the same for me. 🥰

And for the extra young coconut’s meat, we ate it wit fruit cocktail. I also added BBQ-flavored crackers to lessen the sweetness which is my favorite!

Filipinos are really creative in making foods even a single penny could have an unexpected value for a cheap food yet has a taste of happiness and memories. Hope you might visit our country and don’t forget to try these cold treats! 💝

HAPPY STEEMING!