The Peanut Browas is one of the many homegrown delicacies of Cebu. These popular treats are Cebu’s version of the Lady Fingers and are made using the same methods established by Lola Pureza. These peanut-flavored treats always evoke a feeling of Old Cebu. You can easily find Peanut Browas in pasalubong centers and groceries all over Cebu.
Another proudly Cebuano delicacy is the Toasted Mini Mamons. The crunchy texture of these delicacies is scrumptious to the taste. Similar to the Peanut Browas, the Toasted Mini Mamons are also made based on the strict standards set by Lola Pureza. They come in bite-sized pieces and are available in many pasalubong centers and supermarkets in Cebu.
The Butterscotch is a toffee-like confectionery made of sugar and butter. The distinctive taste of the Butterscotch of Lola Pureza comes from the molasses and muscovado sugar it uses. These two ingredients give it the right amount of sweetness and its chewy consistency, which enhances its already enjoyable taste. You can also find the Butterscotch in different pasalubong centers and groceries all over metro Cebu.
This sinfully scrumptious delicacy has tickled the taste buds of Cebuanos and visitors to Cebu for generations. While there are many versions of the chicharon, everyone agrees that the best one can be found in Carcar City. Made of pork rind boiled in water filled with salt and other spices, the Carcar chicharon can be eaten as a snack or as one of the viands in a meal. It is even being used to enhance the flavor of some Cebuano dishes. Even as the best place to buy the chicharon is in Carcar, you can still find them in many supermarkets and pasalubong centers in Cebu.
The masi is a homemade treat that has become one of the most sought-after treats from Liloan. It consists of glutinous rice with a filling made of sweet peanut paste. While it can be found anywhere in the country, the masi of Liloan is arguably among the best. You can find this treat being sold at the plaza of Liloan or along the road in the town. It can also be bought at a pasalubong center in Liloan.
Another Cebu delicacy you may want to give is the torta from Argao. This sweet and tangy pastry is one of the sources of pride for the people of this southern heritage town. Even as it uses the same basic ingredients as the torta in other places, the Argao torta uses tuba or fermented coconut rather than yeast. The tuba gives the torta of Argao its distinctive flavor that has captured the taste of many Cebuanos. The best place to buy the torta is in Argao, but it is also available in a number of supermarkets all over Cebu.
The bibingka is a native delicacy that is popular among Cebuanos and visitors to Cebu. There may be many versions of this delectable treat, but the bibingka from Mandaue is hands-down among the best Cebu can offer. Even longtime residents of Cebu, who are now living in other parts of the country and the world, still long to have a bite of the bibingka from Mandaue. You can easily find the Mandaue bibingka at stalls along the roads of Mandaue as well as some groceries and supermarkets in Cebu.
The buko pie may be available in a number of supermarkets and groceries in Cebu, but the buko pie of San Fernando is considered among the best in Cebu. The San Fernando buko pie makes use of young coconut meat and is typically sold hot and fresh. They may be smaller compared to the usual buko pie you find in a supermarket or grocery, but they taste better.
The pintos is a delicacy from the northern city of Bogo. It is made of ground milk that is mixed with butter and margarine. The special variant of this treat uses margarine instead of butter. It has become so popular in Bogo that the city named its annual festival the Pintos Festival. While it is only available in Bogo, there are instances when it is brought to the Queen City of the South through a food expo.
Another delicacy that originated from Mandaue City is the masareal. This sweet peanut delicacy is made of peanuts and sugar syrup. They are shaped like a rectangle and are enjoyed by both children and adults. These sweet, nutty treats are available in many groceries and pasalubong centers all over metro Cebu.