Pakumbo candy, a unique sweet treat from Batangas made from coconut and sugarcane juice, is cherished locally and showcased by longtime maker Marlon Bruto.
Batangas locals take pride in their distinct delicacy called pakumbo candy, which at first may seem complex but is quite simply made from buko (young coconut) and sangkaka (sweetened coconut sap). In a recent episode of the show “I Juander,” Marlon Bruto, who has been producing and selling pakumbo for nearly ten years, was featured. The process involves boiling sangkaka, extracted from sugarcane juice, until it melts, then adding coconut and waiting for the mixture to dry and solidify into pakumbo. Making and wrapping pakumbo requires patience; Marlon can spend up to two days wrapping large quantities. He carries the candies on a traditional bamboo pole for selling, with a retail price of 35 Philippine pesos each. Chef Zhe Jacinto has also experimented with pakumbo, incorporating its sweetness into a spicy prawn dish as a kitchen inspiration. Pakumbo thus remains an emblematic culinary product of Batangas, highlighting the region’s simple yet artisanal approach to confectionery.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/balitambayan/talakayan/980677/kending-pakumbo-na-kinatatakaman-sa-batangas-natikman-mo-na-ba/story/