Filipino Food Review - Halo Halo

Cuisine: Filipino

Category: Desserts

Name: Halo Halo (which translates into English as 'mix mix')

Where to get it: Any authentic Filipino restaurant will have Halo Halo on their dessert menu for sure. Or, alternatively, you could just make your own!

Halo Halo is a popular filipino dessert made up of shaved ice and evaporated milk. Each Halo Halo is different - there is no particular set of ingredients required. The chef is able to add a variety of jellies, fruit and sweet beans as they please. Once the ingredients are added into the shaved ice, ice cream is then placed at the top. The Halo Halo that i tried consisted of vanilla and ube (a traditional filipino favourite which translates in English as 'purple yam') ice cream, shredded Macapuno coconut (a type of coconut grown in the Philippines), evaporated milk, corn, jelly, red beans, white beans and palm fruit.

Eating the Halo Halo is even more exciting, taking its name literally. To eat the Halo Halo you have to mix all the ingredients together in the bowl that it was served in. If it is mixed well enough, your first spoonful should contain a little bit of everything. It may not sound that appetising, but it is strangely delicious. The multitude of ingredients somehow combines to make something extremely unique and memorable. 

For anyone looking for a good filipino dessert to try, i'd definitely recommend Halo Halo. It is a crowd pleaser and now i'm sure you know why.

If you're interested in making this, watch this youtube video to learn how:

Pictures were taken by me - food is from Cucina de Manila, Rooty Hill

- Raissa