Bulacan is known for their sweet delicacies and other homemade offerings. That's why when I had an opportunity to visit this province north of Manila, I finally embarked on a journey to visit the stores offering these products.
1. Ensaymada Malolos
This is one of the two most popular products of Eurobake, a well-known bakeshop located at MacArthur highway near the boundary arch of Malolos-Guiguinto towns.Its difference from Ensaymada Kapampangan is that the Malolos versions has added salted egg and ham on larger version. The pastry has a creamy cheesy taste with added kick of salted egg.
2. Inipit de Leche
The other offering and flagship product of Eurobake is still the inipit. This pastry is made from two flat chiffon cakes, pressed and laden with custard in between. Hence, inipit or "pressed". It's like eating a mamon with leche flan inside. Tough a bit pricey compared to its size, the quality of the product is still there, as they say.
3. Pastillas
San Miguel town at north of Bulacan is known for their pastillas made from carabao's milk. A pasalubong shop at highway near a bus stopover leads you to Sevilla's sweets. They also sell different kinds of sweets but the best seller is the Pastillas de Leche. I bought an assorted box and tasted each one: the purple one is ube-flavored, yellow for yema, orange for keso, green for langka, and white one for milk flavor (leche). For me, the white one is the best tasting pastillas.
4. Minasa
After visiting the Bustos Town Hall, I saw a little store selling minasa, the flagship product of this municipality. They even have a festival for it. I bought a small jar and upon looking at the contents, it reminded me of uraro that I used to buy from Samal, Bataan and Liliw, Laguna. The difference between the uraro and the minasa is that, the latter one has coconut milk. Still, both have chalky texture and I munched more of these in one sitting.
5. Barquillos
On the same store where I bought minasa, their version of barquillos has a coconut milk ingredient, too. I'm not used to eat cookies and wafer with coconut milk flavor, but I can't help finishing a part of its jar, because of light wafers. These rolls are best paired with ice cream.
6. Crispy Mushroom Flakes and Bits
After alighting from a jeep at Plaridel crossing, I started walking to the town center to visit St. James Church. I noticed a stall near an academy selling mushroom products. When I saw that they're selling mushroom chips, I got curious on how would it taste like munching these. Finaly, I bought one with original flavor. After unsealing the foil pack, what made me surprise is that these mushrooms taste like chicharon! I resisted eating only few of these, but I can't help to finish all the contents. It's very addicting! Hoping to buy other flavors when I had a chance to see these nearby.
7. Putok Pandesal de Baliuag
Before crossing the bridge leading to Bustos town, I searched for a bakery selling "putok Baliuag". I got curious on what is its form and taste. After walking from the town plaza and passing by the old town hall (now a museum), I saw this bakery called Lin-Mers. At their countertop, I noticed these little buns labeled "Putok Special". I knew this is what I'm looking for. The appearance is just like your ordinary pandesal bought at local bakeries, but the taste is milky, reminding me of pinagong from Sariaya, but still pandesal dough was used. I'd say this pandesal version is milky and heavy in tummy. A piece can make you full and no spread needed.
8. Chicharon
Santa Maria town is best known for poultry products as well as chicharon-making industry. I've seen Jennie's brand in several TV shows and luckily, my officemate bought this product for our team building. I happily exclaimed that this snack is what I sought for. The seasoned crackling is addictive. There are other variants and flavors available, but I prefer the classic one.
