Nueva Ecija's PUNO'S ICE CREAM: A Provincial Heritage

This made my day! :)

Finally, natikman ko na ulit ang "Cheese, Cashew and Macapuno" ice cream from Puno's!

The first time I tasted it was when I joined a veteran-related event in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija and they served us this unforgettable ice cream.

They told me it was made from fresh carabao's milk, which I easily tasted! In fact, if one would really savor it, it tastes like frozen pastillas! Sobrang creamy yet it's not so sweet - just like any homemade ice cream.

What I appreciated most from this brand is that it CHOSE to maintain its branding as a "homemade" product - unlike other local brands who gained a massive following and went "commercial;" sacrificing the quality and tradition that go with it.

Well, that of course, may be because the family could not afford to expand their business, which includes buying big ice cream makers or hire delivery vans or get more people. In their Facebook page, it was written that "the company was founded by Atanacio and Simeona Puno...to send their nine children to school." This gives us a deeper perspective beyond "business as usual."

The first time I tried it, I asked the people from Cabanatuan if there are available Puno's products elsewhere - especially in Manila. They told me that it is only available in various areas within the province of Nueva Ecija. Yes - making it a provincial heritage, a treasure you really have to go to.

That is why today, after a medical mission in Fort Magsaysay, I bravely asked my boss to make a quick turn along Sta. Rosa just so we could buy this ice cream. I needed to take advantage of tasting this heavenly creation again. Hinanap ko pa talaga sa Facebook page nila kung saan ang pinakamalapit na store sa pinuntahan namin. Ganun ako na-hook! :)

I will definitely miss this when I go to New Zealand. No amount of ice cream made from their cows' milk will take the place of the taste and heart of this Filipino dairy goodness.