TILAPIA ICE CREAM, CLSU, SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ NUEVA ECIJA

Asian Dragon visited the SIAL Asean Manila 2016, which is a showcase of the biggest and most exciting food products and innovations in the country, and we found some of the most interesting new food and non-food finds of the year. Held at the World Trade Center throughout this week, at least 300 exhibitors showcased their products to 5000 buyers from 24 different countries.

One of our favorite finds at the fair is the tilapia ice cream, a project by the Central Luzon State University Nueva Ecija. Talking to one of its proponents, Dana Vera Cruz, we find out that CLSU have already been developing the technology since 2011 to create ice cream from tilapia fillets without the fishy aftertaste and smell. It all started when CLSU was given a grant to create a cookbook featuring tilapia recipes. The tilapia ice cream was the last-minute addition to their roster and it turned out to be the star of the cookbook. Fast forward five years, they are now ready to market the product under the name Daerrys, which is a tilapia ice cream line consisting of Original Tilapia Ice Cream, Tilapia Ice Cream Sansrival, Tilapia Ice Cream Pops, and Tilapia Ice Cream Sandwich.

CABANATUAN LONGGANISA

Every province seems to have its own version of longganisa and Nueva Ecija is no exception. For breakfast, be sure to try Cabanatuan garlic longganisa, a very savory variant of the well-loved sausage typically made of ground pork and spices.

If you prefer your longganisa on the sweet side, try batotay, a beef-based longganisa coated with a distinctive sweet sauce. You can also pass by the wet market to buy strings of longganisa to take home.

DAIRY PRODUCTS

While most people are very familiar with cow’s milk, milk from carabao or water buffaloes are popular here. Carabao’s milk is said to be richer and creamier compared to cow’s and goat’s milk because of its high percentage of milk fat.

Tourists can buy fresh carabao’s milk and dairy products from Milka Krem, the dairy products outlet of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) in Munoz. Their innovative products include carabao mozzarella cheese, kesong puti, cream cheese, premium ice cream, flavored yogurt, and pastillas de leche.