July 9, 2009

Soft and silken

One of the most common street snacks in the Philippines is taho, though it probably came to us through China. It only has three ingredients: fresh soft tofu, arnibal (a syrup made from caramelized brown sugar), and tiny sago pearls. It's filling, high in protein, provides a quick dose of energy because of the sugar, and, most importantly for many Filipinos, it's cheap. This serving in a regular-sized plastic cup costs only 10 pesos (US¢20) and they're available in the smaller, water cooler-sized cup for half the price. Don't let its looks deceive you—taho is delicious! You can see a taho vendor in one of my Baguio City Series posts from last year.

taho

29 comments:

Lois said...

It looks good to me, especially after reading your description of what is in it! You certainly can't beat the price.

crocrodyl said...

Looks strange but for sure it is tasty:)

James said...

Hi Hilda, first I want to let you know that I have no idea what the arch in my bridge pictures is/was used for other than a sign that says "welcome to Penn's Landing" I'll let you know if I find out.
Secondly I am really shocked at the dollar peso exchange rate. When I was in the P.I. 10 pesos was about
¢.50
Finally I would give taho a try but I would need to get past the texture of the pearls and the tofu also I think I would like it better iced. ;-)

Dina said...

OK, I'll try it. Send one over! And the price is right.

Today I was in Jerusalem in a neighborhood with many little parks. You see so many old folks, each with his own carer from the Philippines. It made me wonder what these young people miss from home. Maybe your taho is one of the little things.

In Australia I always wondered about the name silken tofu. Thanks for the link that explains it.

Leif Hagen said...

Delicious photo! I'm willing to try anything once! The price is sure right!

Clueless in Boston said...

It sounds really good and at an unbeatable price.

marley said...

My sweet tooth is crying out for some! It looks delicious to me :)

EG CameraGirl said...

It looks yummy to me. Made with tofu so I bet it's somewhat good for you too. ;-)

Don and Krise said...

OK Hilda, we'll take your word for it. If you say it's good then it must be. I'd be brave and give it a try. I also agree, the price sure is right.

Lowell said...

I'd certainly be willing to give it a try...but what are sago pearls?

Buck said...

Food! Yay, what a great post! I get so many good ideas from you Hilda. Sago pearls sound like tapioca to me, which makes the taho sound extra good to me.

Chattahoochee Valley Daily said...

Looks a bit like a root beer float, which is also very good : )

George said...

Taho looks and sounds delicious. I'd like to give it a try sometime.

Olivier said...

la composition donne envie d'en prendre un.
composition gives desire to take one.

Priyanka Khot said...

Sounds delicious and cheapness of the drink adds to the taste.

VP said...

I am not sure about this, it looks inviting but tofu has the same appeal of cork to me. I'm curious about the sago pearls...

Bergson said...

A real meal in a glass

B SQUARED said...

I'm with Vogon but I would give it a try if I could.

Anonymous said...

I suppose I could get past the tofu since there is something else sweet in it. It actually looks like some kind of ice cream with caramel or butterscotch syrup.

Halcyon said...

If you add a little cinnamon, I'm sure I'd love it. I think brown sugar and cinnamon go great together. And I don't mind tofu.

2sweetnsaxy said...

Interesting. Never seen anything like it. Do you have to eat the tofu or does it mix in with the rest and you drink it too? I don't know anything about tofu. :-)

Unknown said...

€0.14 for such an energetic food! That's amazing! And it looks so tasty!

Hilda said...

James, Vogon, B, Abe, 2sweet:
When it's all mixed up, you won't even taste the tofu — all you'll taste is the sweet arnibal. Texture won't be much of a problem either because it'll be so liquefied, you can drink it with a straw. The sago pearls are the ones that add a little texture and bite.

Buck, Jacob:
Yes, sago pearls are similar to tapioca pearls. Both are starches, but made from different plants. Sago comes from the sago palm and tapioca from a root crop.

Ken Mac said...

oh my, this looks scary!

Anonymous said...

wow ka lami ana oy

Unknown said...

I love taho too...but I only get the small cups...

lunarossa said...

Looks delicious, Hilda. I'd really like to try it! Ciao. A.

Rach said...

I miss taho! I remember waking up to the sound of the vendor yelling "taaahooo!" ^-^

Anonymous said...

Every food containing strength,I love to eat. I wish some day i will taste it.

peter


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