Sorbetes

Sorbetes is a Filipino version for common ice cream usually peddled from carts that roam streets in the Philippinescite news |url=http://fil.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Sorbetes |title=Sorbetes] . This should not be confused with the known sorbet. It is also commonly called 'dirty ice cream' because it is sold along the streets exposing it to pollution and that the factory where it comes from is usually unknown. It is usually served with small wafer or sugar cones and recently, bread buns.

History and Formulation

Ice cream was introduced in the Philippines during the time of the American invasion when refrigerators and other cooling devices were introducedcite news |url=http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2004/06/05/TSTE2004060510939.html |title=Sorbetes And The Philippine Dessert Repertoire |work=Manila Bulletin via mb.com.ph |author=Diana Galang] . The common American ice cream was introduced at that time using cow's milk but was made cheaper using the more available carabao's milk in the country, making the ice cream to sorbetes, though cow's milk is still being widely used today. Flavors also varied from the usual natural fruits such as mango, avocado, coconut; to flavors imitating commercial ice cream such as chocolate, cookies and cream, cheese, mocha, etc.

The sorbetes industry competes with commercially available ice cream from giant companies operating in the Philippines such as Magnolia and Selecta, which also started peddling their product in the streets in more sanitized carts.

Peddling

Sorbetes is peddled by sorbeteros using colorfully painted wooden carts which usually can accomodate three flavors, each in a large metal canister. Peddlers get their carts from makers scattered around the cities of the Philippines in the morning and walk the streets the whole day, calling consumers from their houses by ringing a small handheld bell.

The wooden cart has two large wooden wheels at the front part to easily push the cart though latest carts are already attached to bicycles.

The cart is stuffed with shaved ice sprinkled with salt to produce a lower temperature around the metal canisters to produce a lower melting point that will cause the ice cream to freeze longercite news |url=http://www.howstuffworks.com/question58.htm |title=Why do they use salt to melt ice on the road in the winter?] .

The whole sorbetes cart is also available for private gatherings when negotiated with the sorbetero. It is usually cheaper that buying gallons of ice cream to be served to guests.

Serving

Consumers who purchase sorbetes from peddlers have the option to choose how it is going to be served with based on the available options of the peddlers. Usual options are small plastic cups, wafer cone, sugar cone, or bread buns, all of which has varying sizes, and therefore affects the price. A serving can include one flavor or a mixture of any of the available. The combination of flavors do not affect the price.

Sorbetes is usually consumed as snack while on travel. It can also be served as dessert.

* Ice cream

References