Tags: Food Products, Truly Pinoy Food and Drinks
By Anna Valmero
BANSALAN, DAVAO DEL SUR—What’s better than your first bite of fresh durian? A scoop of organic durian ice cream served on a hot summer day.
Durian is one of the most popular exotic foods to define Davao. Inside the strong-smelling spiky fruit is a custard-like, pale yellow meat that is unrivaled in taste. In fact, most of the Davaoeños like famous coconut sugar producer Benjamin Lao said that the “king of fruits” describes durian best best.
To give tourists more options on how to eat the exotic fruit, Lao introduced in mid-1990s the durian ice cream made of fresh durian fruit and goat milk from his organic farm, Lao Integrated Farms Inc.
Before producing coconut sugar and coconut syrup products that he now exports to the United States, Lao started a small production of organic ice cream made from fresh durian, malunggay and cacao grown at his farm. For the sweetener, he uses the healthy coconut syrup produced at his farm.
He named his ice cream line Donnabelle after his two daughters. Starting with ingredients from his farm, Lao did not spend much to start production of his soft-serve ice cream. At first, the farm-produced ice cream was served at his home in Davao, for his family and friends and to visiting guests.
“A delicious ice cream is one that is made from fresh ingredients and I think the creaminess of the milk and the natural flavors from the fruits add more value to the product so Davaoeños and tourists love it,” said Lao.
It was not long after he started to produce the ice cream for commercial consumption due to growing orders from family friends. He started distributing them to local restaurants and groceries in 1999.
If you visit his organic farm in Barangay Eman in Bansalan town, the “siyentistang magsasaka” (scientist farmer) would offer you a cup or two of his ice cream product line. Do not hesitate to try all the flavors because each of the durian, malunggay and cacao flavored ice creams has its own unique taste and character.
Having heard raves about the durian ice cream from our host, I was expecting something like the usual taste of ice cream offered in popular brands today—the watered down creaminess and sugary taste that I cannot decipher the flavor anymore, save for the food coloring they added to remind you of the ice cream flavor.
If you love the old Magnolia ice cream brand back in the late 1980s and early 1990s—when you can taste the the full flavors of milk in the ice cream—the Donnabelle durian ice cream is something you must try.
Durian ice cream is both sweet and has that awesome hint of durian taste, minus the overpowering smell so you can enjoy it inside hotels on your trip here and even at the comfort of your home. Best of all, it is made of all natural ingredients and it has no preservatives so it is healthier, aside from offering you vitamins B and C and hint of potassium from the fruit.
The malunggay ice cream on the other hand was slightly bitter but combined with the sweet almond taste of coconut syrup, it was a playful flavor on the palate. The cacao ice cream, on the other hand, reminds me of chocolate ice cream that is more flavorful due to goat’s milk.
Lao said that he plans to expand to Manila in the next two years to have enough time to increase his production. At present, he is happy serving Cebu and Mindanao-based groceries.
Get more information on Lao Integrated Farms Inc
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The many ways of enjoying Davao’s exotic durian
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A bag of Apo ni Lola Durian treats is a must-have ‘pasalubong’ from Davao
Bankerohan market is where you go for ‘pasalubong’ in Davao
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