Suman
A traditional Filipino rice cake, suman is made of glutinous rice and banana leaves. It’s a common sweet treat in the Philippines, especially when topped with shredded coconut, sugar, or melted chocolate.
Suman was a common snack among the native people of the Philippines long before the Spanish arrived. Preparing Suman is time-consuming because the glutinous rice must be soaked overnight before being ground into a powder. Banana leaves are used to encase the rice powder mixture, which also includes sugar and coconut milk, before being steamed.
Adding lye water to the glutinous rice mixture before steaming results in “Suman sa Lihiya,” one of the most well-known variants of Suman. This is what gives Suman its signature salty flavor and chewy consistency.
Alternatively, “Suman sa Latik” can be prepared by simmering glutinous rice and coconut milk together until the rice is tender and the milk has the consistency of sweetened condensed milk. Next, it gets wrapped up and steamed. It also makes the Suman stickier and sweeter.
As a snack or dessert, suman is often served with a variety of toppings and dipping sauces. Grated coconut, sugar, and even chocolate are common additions. During the mango season, it is frequently served with fresh mangoes. The term “Suman at Manga” was coined to describe this phenomenon.
Everyone from babies to grandparents loves the Filipino dessert known as suman. It’s a fantastic opportunity to sample Philippine culture and history. Although it takes a lot of time and effort, the unique and delicious Suman that is the end result is well worth it.
In sum, Suman is a traditional Filipino rice cake that serves both as a snack and a sweet treat. Great for getting a feel for Philippine culture and history. An extremely common couple is Suman and Manga. Suman’s subtle sweetness and stickiness pair wonderfully with the natural sugars and juice of ripe mangoes. It’s the best way to indulge in Filipino cuisine whenever you like.
Want to learn another Filipino food? Here’s the next blog > Taba ng talangka
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