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Just when I was getting ready to shut my suitcase while packing for my trip from Manila back to the USA, I asked my sister. “Can you get me a few packs of Iced Candy plastic bags?” One of the most iconic street foods in the Philippines is the ICED CANDY. It is street food that’s so commonplace. The kind you buy from any ordinary street vendor. But these little iced delights are simply extraordinary!
These little frozen treats are packaged in long plastic bags measuring 1 inch by 10 inches. Once prepared with fruity or milky flavors, they are frozen till they are rock- solid . Anybody who eats these sweet cold treats enjoys them like frozen ice pops and the joy of eating this is as irresistable as having candy…thus it is “iced candy”.
On my trip to Manila recently, I enjoyed these 3 fruity flavors in various ways, all the time : mangoes, watermelons and buko (coconut) – pandan.
Watermelons in Manila are bright red inside and are the sweetest in the universe. Freshly made watermelon juice is very popular everywhere because of it’s refreshing flavor.
The “buko”(coconut)-pandan desserts in Manila are out of this world. PANDAN is a tropical plant commonly grown in Asia, and has long green leaves. If the leaves are boiled or pounded into a paste, it adds a unique, sweet almond-like, nutty flavor to desserts and dishes. And if pandan flavors are added to desserts with coconut, then it is an explosion of yumminess!
Mangoes are the national fruit and I simply languished in them 3 times daily, in any way….a fully ripened fresh slice, a freshly-pureed tall, cold glass of juice, or in divine cakes and pastries.
So when I returned back to the USA, I lost no time recreating these flavors. I wanted to make some fruit sherbets, but since I already had the plastic bags on hand, ICED CANDY seemed like a wonderful idea.
First, I made some mango puree, using golden ripe, fresh mangoes. My food processor practically did all the work for me.
Then, I made some watermelon juice. Aaaaaah, it was wonderfully thirst-quenching!
And finally, I made my own “buko” (coconut) pandan concoction….it was unbelievably euphoric!
After filling up a few dozen little plastic bags, I froze them overnight, and the next day….like magic, they were tantalizing little iced candies in three magnificent Manila flavors : mangoes, watermelon and “buko”(coconut) pandan!
What you need:
Equipment – plastic bags, funnel, strainer, blender or food processor
Ingredients – fruits available, syrup, honey, milk, coconut cream
ICED CANDY
For Syrup:
½ cup Karo syrup (or honey)
½ cup sugar
1 cup water
Mix all these together. In a small saucepan, boil till syrup is thick for about 8 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool before mixing in the juices.
MANGO JUICE
1 cup mango puree, from a fresh ripe mango
1 cup mango juice, canned or bottled
4 Tablespoons syrup
Put all these ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend or pulse till smooth.
WATERMELON JUICE
4 cups chopped watermelon, seeds removed
¼ cup syrup
Put all these ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend or pulse till smooth.
BUKO (COCONUT)- PANDAN JUICE
- Prepare the green gelatin or gulaman: Boil a green gulaman or “agar-agar” bar in 2 cups water. Add 2 teaspoons McCormick International Pandan Flavor. Mix well. Place in a heatproof container and allow the “gulaman” to firm up.
- Mix together : 1 cup milk, 1 cup canned coconut cream, 1/3 cup sugar, and 1 ½ teaspoons McCormick International Pandan Flavor.
- To assemble : Cut up the green gelatin or gulaman in slim strips. Add these to the milk-coconut mixture.
TO FILL UP ICED CANDY BAGS:
- Loosen up the little plastic bags.
- Using a funnel, add 2 tablespoons of each juice flavor to the bag.
- Leave 2 inches of the top for tying into a knot.
- You should have about 8 inches of the plastic bag filled up.
- Freeze the “iced candy” bags overnight. Make sure to keep them in a straight horizontal position.
COOK’S COMMENTS :
PANDAN : If pandan leaves are not available, use the bottled pandan flavoring, which can be found in Asian groceries or online sources.
GULAMAN or “agar-agar” – is the Asian gelatin. It is a solid, coarse bar that comes in different colors. If boiled in water, it firms up just like jello after a few hours. It is used for desserts and dishes. Find the gulaman in Asian groceries or online sources.
PLASTIC BAGS for ICED CANDY : Find them in Filipino stores, online sources or ask anyone who’s going to the Philippines to get you some. They’re very inexpensive. If you can’t find them, use regular ice popsicle plastic containers.
This is my entry for this month’s KULINARYA COOKING CLUB.
These sound sooooo much better then any store bought popsicle! I love the idea making homemade too:-) Yum, Hugs, Terra
Thanks, Terra! These were so easy to make, too. I made a couple of dozens….they’re nearly gone:-) You’ll enjoy these in your own fave flavors!
Coconut Pandan sounds interessting to me since I dont know what pandan tastes like. ahh but mango and watermelon are the best in the heat, so refreshing. Love the colores too!
Hi Helene. I’m sure you can find Pandan leaves where you are! They’re a tropical plant. And it’s so versatile for many dishes, not just dessert. Try putting a pandan leaf when cooking rice…omg, yummy!
Oh yes, the buko pandan ice candy is the star of the show. Very nice entry to the March theme, Have a terrific week ahead, Elizabeth!
Thanks, Chef Ray! Agree with you, the buko-pandan was a hit at our family table. Later, the mango & watermelon were top faves,too. Thanks for stopping by:-)
These are wonderful! Thanks for sharing your recipes. Such a great replacement for those Freezies that are out there now.
Thanks, Paula. So kind of you to come by. Yes. we love these little homemade treats. They’re so affordable and so easy to do!
I have fond memories of this when I would vacation! I never knew you could buy the plastic tubes – how neat! My kids would LOVE this, and it doesn’t even have to be hot, they would eat it in the coldest winter
I’ll have to make this for them.
Thanks, Liren! Your kids would love this. And I can just see you concocting different amazing flavors! See you in a week
Can’t get enough of watermelon, mango and buko (especially macapuno) when I’m back home. Your post just reminded me again how delicious these summer fruits are.
Hi Iska! Thanks for the blog-love.Yes, I tried to recreate those warm Manila memories with these flavors. It never fails to bring me back “home”!
Love the flavors you used, especially the buko pandan…gorgeous colors!
Thanks Chef D! Don’t we all just love the buko-pandan combo? I served this to the family. Guess which flavor sold out first? Glad you stopped by!
Love the buko pandan flavor. I could almost taste it too!
Thanks, Jenn. We just LOVE the buko-pandan flavor. I couldn’t not make it. Nice of you to stop by!
I would love a mango iced candy! They are beautiful colours!
Hi Maureen! Oh I know what you mean. Don’t forget you are talking to @Mango_Queen! Thanks for the blog-support!
I love how you stayed true to classic Filipino flavors! The colors of summer are all present and accounted for in your creations.:D
Thanks, Gio! We just love these 3 flavors here at home, no matter what season! So glad you stopped by! Cheers!
Love all the flavors you chose, Elizabeth! Very refreshing!
Thanks, Tina! These 3 are some of my family’s fave flavors! So good of you to stop by. Mabuhay!
All those flavors shouts “Pinoy Ako”! Can I have one of each????
Thanks, Peachy! We sure love these Filipino favorite flavors! Glad you stopped by:-)
I love this idea! I will have to make some this summer!
Hi Jersey Girl Cooks ! Yes, these Iced Candies are delightfully easy to make. So nice of you to stop by!
I’d love these ice candies just and fight for the last piece with my kids! =D So many flavors that I will have a problem choosing just one. All of them sound and look so good!
Hi Nami, You should try these for the warmer months. Your kids will love it! Mine did! Nice of you to stop by!
Patok sa tibay? Of course!! Lovely post, Betty Ann. Love the colors and the flavors… So vibrant and so Filipino.
Thanks, Jun! So honored by your kind comments & support. And THANKS to you & Inuyaki for the great theme! Always glad to cook along with you on KCC events!
i love the buko pandan and the watermelon…and the mango! well, that’s all of it!
nice flavors tita!
Thanks, D ! Glad you liked the flavors! Hope to see your KCC entry soon
my patok sa tibay ice candy bags arriving from MNL in two weeks….looking forward to these summer treats…..
Thanks, Janet! So glad you’re going to make your own “Patok sa Tibay” Iced candy versions, too! Enjoy
Oh yummy! Especially LOVE the mango one. It brings back fond memories of a similar fruit-flavoured iced lolly we use to have in primary school in Malaysia.
Thanks, Jaime! These flavors are all tropical, yet so versatile ! Glad you came by. I enjoyed my visit to Penang, Malaysia a few yrs. ago for a wedding & loved all the food!
Wow three flavours – and they’re all awesome! BTW, love how the iced candy plastic bags had “patok sa tibay” that made me laugh!
Thanks, Ms. Mandaluyong! Nice of you to stop by. I know, I LOL”d, too with the “Patok” brand….which btw, was tough to translate in English over here. What does “patok” exactly mean? I hope it means “terrific” ! Cheers!
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OMG! These look amazing! Will have to try for sure!!
Hi Liz! Yes, these are absolutely delish! And they’re such affordable treats, too ! Make a ton for all summer long. Your family will be thrilled.
yum!!! you forgot to make mel0n & av0cad0 flav0rs!! Ü
Thanks, Eleanor. You’re right! I should add that to the list. I still have the little plastic bags. Will get to work. Thanks for the ideas
I will definitely make this…..question is where can I find those plastic bags here…….hmmmmmm….
Thanks, Carla. You can improvise and use ice pop containers, but have the same Filipino flavors we all love. Or if ever anyone comes back from the Philippines, it’s the kind of “bilin” that doesn’t weigh nor cost anything. Glad you came by