Every Filipino (or those who have lived in the Philippines for quite sometime) knows what that call means. People from all walks of life would hurry up to meet that magtataho, usually a middle-aged man who carries two aluminum buckets connected to one another by a series of strings attached to a bamboo slab, which then rests on the man's shoulders as he walks around the area. Nowadays one can also see a taho vendor (complete with aluminum buckets and the rest of the contraptions) in the food courts of some big malls, even the supposedly posh ones like Powerplant Mall.
Taho curd In this age when people work regardless of time of the day and 24/7 convenience stores are making a killing, it is not surprising to see a magtataho even during late at night. Times may have changed, but the taho will always be the Filipino's favorite dessert. And why is that?
Taho caramel syrup, or arnibal Taho is nutritious and tastes so much better than cereal drinks that come in packs. A 150-ml taho (sold for 5 pesos, which is worth even less than 5 cents) is enough to sate in-between meal cravings, and in greater servings can even take the place of breakfast. Taho is a dessert that one can eat without feeling guilty about deliberately putting on extra pounds.
Sago, or tapioca pearls It is likewise easy to eat; in fact there are many ways to eat taho. It can be eaten from a bowl and scooped with a spoon. It can also be mixed into a loose flurry and sipped with a straw. For those who cannot be bothered by additional utensils, taho is drunk straight from the glass.
Taho is my personal favorite. While I am a big big fan of fruits, I never really enjoyed the more contemporary preparations of taho (those with added fruit toppings sold in the supermarkets and serve in some restaurants). I like taho just the way I have always had it ever since I was very young. Just the beautiful soya curd being caressed by the brown arnibal and playfully topped by soft tapioca. A mouthful of fun without a lot of frills.
Taho, ready to eat. Miam!Some more renowned Filipino blog sites likewise pay homage to this classic dessert.
In Dessert Comes First, the author describes how taho is served, from the aluminum bucket to the cup to her eager hands, the entire experience to "a thousand happy memories".
Taho breaks economic status barriers, and Marketman of Market Manila relates that Mang Amado, a magtataho, somehow manages to peddle taho in a gated village.
Lastly, Doc Emer of Parallel Universes has his own way of exalting the humble dessert: he enumerates taho's nutritional worth.
As for me, an unabashed taho fan ... well, if you are paying Manila a visit and want to try this delectable stuff, just give me a call, or leave a message on the blog, ok? ;)
[Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are by moi.]
