Snacks philippines

Types of snacks philippines

Snack food in the Philippines comes in various flavors, textures, and forms. These include traditional desserts, savory treats, and modern munchies. Here’s a rundown of some popular Filipino snack categories:

• Savory Snacks

  Salty snacks in the philippines are enjoyed throughout the day for their bold and often salty flavors. These include chips, crackers, and even meat-based snacks like chicharrón. Chicharrón consists of deep-fried pork skin that is crunchy and typically salty, making this a favorite for many. Others like fish skin are similar to pork but offer a different flavor profile, usually drier and with a stronger taste of the sea. Nuts are another thing, with peanuts being fried or roasted and sometimes spiced with salt, garlic, or chili.

  Next is the longganisa vigan which is a local sausage known for its garlicky flavor and slightly sweet taste, often associated with the province of Vigan. Tapa is cured beef that’s typically marinated in a mixture of vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic, then fried until tender or crispy, depending on preference. Also, daing na bangus refers to butterflied and marinated milkfish, usually cured in a mixture of salt and vinegar, sometimes with spices, and then fried until crispy. Finally, mango powdeed offers a crunchy and tangy twist on snack mangoes, often seasoned with salt or chili powder for added flavor.

• Dessert and Sweet Snacks

  Desserts and other sweet snacks in the philippines are usually consumed after meals or as a mid-afternoon treat. One of the most popular sweet treats is leche flan, known as caramel custard in the west. It is a smooth and creamy dessert made from eggs and sweetened condensed milk, topped with a rich caramel sauce. Also, bibingka is rice cake made from rice flour and coconut milk, traditionally cooked in banana leaf molds, giving it a unique flavor. This snack is popular during the Christmas season but is also enjoyed year-round.

  Another is puto which is a steamed rice cake that is soft and slightly sweet, often served as a side to savory dishes or enjoyed on its own. Puto comes in various flavors and colors, sometimes with cheese or salted egg on top. Then there’s turon which is fried fruit, mainly bananas, and sometimes with a slice of jackfruit. These are wrapped in spring roll wrappers, fried, and caramelized for a crispy, sweet treat. Finally, they have buko pie which is a coconut custard pie. It is made from young coconut meat cooked in a creamy custard filling, all encased in a flaky pie crust.

• Savory and Sweet Pastries

  This includes breads and other pastries filled usually with meats, cheeses, or sweet fillings that are very popular. These include pan de sal which is a Filipino bread roll usually slightly crunchy and soft in the middle. It is often eaten with cheese, eggs, or jam for a quick breakfast or snack. Cheese rolls are another variant where these bread rolls are filled with a gooey cheese mixture, sometimes topped with sugar or butter for added richness.

  There are also beef empanada and chicken empanada and they are both filled with spiced beef or chicken, mixed with vegetables, and enclosed in a flaky, golden-brown pastry. These are very delicious and are often eaten with dipping sauces like vinegar or aioli. Other similar options are tuna empanada and cassava empanada which have tuna or cassava as the main filling.

• Modern Packaged Snacks

  With the rise of global snack food brands and the increasing availability of modern, packaged snacks, there are a lot of options today. These are usually mass-produced and are a more convenient option. Potato chips are fried or baked snacks made from thinly sliced potatoes, seasoned with various flavors like salt, barbecue, cheese, and many more. These are the most popular and are almost available everywhere. Another is extruded corn snacks like cheese balls and corn chips. They are made from cornmeal, shaped, and cooked through an extrusion process, then flavored with cheese or other seasonings.

Ingredients Used To Make Snacks In The Philippines

The ingredients used to make snacks in the Philippines usually reflect the country's agricultural abundance and colonial history. This allows a wide variety of sweet, savory, and texturally rich snacks to be enjoyed by all.

• Coconut

  Coconuts are called the tree of life in the Philippines because every part of it can be used. The meat, milk, and water find their way into numerous snacks and desserts. The water is the most popular drink that the coconut is known for because it is refreshing and hydrating. The meat is shredded and used in recipes like macapuno which is sweetened coconut made from off-white heirloom coconuts. It can also be added to pies and rice cakes for flavor and texture. Coconut milk and cream is also used to make leche flan, pancakes,s and other desserts.

• Rice

  Rice is and has always been the staple food of almost every Filipino. It is used to make various snacks, especially those steamed or baked like rice cakes, puto, and bibingka. Rice flour is also used to make chewy snacks like suman, which are sticky rice boiled or steamed in banana leaf bras. Finally, kanin beleggen is a rice snack that uses leftover rice topped with garlic, oil, and sometimes fried peanuts or cracklings for a crunchy treat.

• Sugar and Sweeteners

  The snacks are mostly sweet because of the heavy use of sugar as seen in desserts like leche flan, bibingka, and halo-halo that use sweetened beans, jellies, and fruits. Then there’s coconut candy which is made from cooked sugar and coconut meat or extractage commonly sold by local vendors.

• Banana

  Since bananas are widely grown in the Philippines, they are used to make a lot of popular snacks like turon which uses sliced ripe bananas wrapped in spring rolls and deep-fried to caramelize the outside with a soft, sweet inside. Banana chips are another popular snack made by slicing bananas and frying or baking them until crispy. Lastly, pastillas de saging is a sweet treat made from overripe mashed bananas wrapped in thin pancake-like batter and cooked on a griddle.

• Sweet Potatoes and Other Root Crops

  Camote fries are crunchy fried sweet potatoes that are seasoned with salt. This makes them a savory or slightly sweet snack that offers a different kind of crispy texture. Another is kamote chips which are made by slicing sweet potatoes thinly, frying or baking them, and seasoning them with salt or other spices.

How To Choose A Reliable Supplier For Snacks In The Philippines

There are several strategies one can use to find reliable wholesale snack suppliers in the Philippines.

• Determine the Client’s Needs

  It is important to first understand the needs of the clients before going out to find a supplier. This means knowing what kinds of snacks they want and the quantities and quality they require. Having this information will allow one to narrow the search and find suppliers who can meet the clients’ demands.

• Supplier Research & Identification

  One can then start their search for suppliers once the client’s needs have been established. Search online or offline for suppliers and they can even ask for recommendations since they want verified information. When researching the available options, they should note whether they offer the products the clients want and their MOQ and pricing.

• Check the Supplier’s Reputation

  Once a shortlist of suppliers is whittled down, go on and check their reputation by looking up online reviews and testimonials or checking their social media pages. Ask other businesses who have worked with them for feedback. At this point, it will be helpful to also check their website for customer reviews or testimonials to quickly and easily gain insight into their products.

• Inquire About Pricing and MOQ

  While determining costs, remember to consider all the expenses that will be incurred. This should also include shipping and handling as well as customs clearance. It is important to be aware of these costs in order to know if the business can operate within profit margins. Always ask suppliers about their MOQ as this allows one to determine if a supplier can work with the client.

• Assess Customer Service

  Good customer service should be expected from any supplier because they are the ones who power the business’ operations. When interacting with potential suppliers, one should note their responsiveness and willingness to provide the required information. This will help ensure they can address any issues quickly and efficiently when the time comes.

Benefits Of Snacks In The Philippines

• Diversity of Flavors and Textures

  The range of snacks means people can find something to satisfy a certain craving. Whether it’s something savory like crunchy chips or rich and creamy sweet snacks like leche flan, there’s always something for everyone. This is further enhanced by the fact that Filipino snacks are mostly characterized by bold and unique flavors thanks to the country’s culinary traditions and diverse cultural influences. These are also enhanced in some cases by modern innovations and the availability of different ingredients.

• Convenience

  Snacks are also quite convenient as they come in small portable sizes allowing them to be eaten on the go. They are also quite easy to prepare where some like the native delicacies require minimal preparation while others are ready to eat right out of the package.

• Cultural Significance

  Snacks are sometimes enjoyed during celebrations, gatherings, and fiestas, reinforcing social bonds and cultural traditions. This means they are central to Filipino hospitality where people offer snacks and refreshments to guests as a gesture of welcome and goodwill.

• A Source of Income for Many

  Filipino snacks are thus very popular because they help bolster the country’s economy. Snacks like kakanin are commonly sold by local vendors in the Philippines. They are also sold in markets, fairs, and street corners. This creates jobs and provides livelihoods to many people, especially those in the informal sector.

Q&A

Can snacks in the Philippines be shipped to other countries?