TAHO, More fun in the Philippines

“Tik-ti-laok” as the rooster shouts. A sign that it is already morning for sure “Mamang Nagtataho” is out there.

This is a typical day here in the Philippines. Taho is made from tofu, brown sugar syrup (arnibal) and sago pearls.

Taho is a staple comfort food that can be found all over the country. For only five pesos to ten pesos you can enjoy the pleasure that taho brings. It is also a great breakfast option, since most vendors prepare their good before dawn.

Everything has its beginning, unlike our local delicacies; taho was known as a Chinese invention that predates the Spanish occupation.

Legend says that tofu was originated sometime during Han Dynasty. Tofu soon became an important source of protein in East Asian Buddhist.

Taho comes from the Malay word “tau hue” which was derived from the Hokkien “tau hua” or “tofu pudding”.

Despites of its popularity, taho were once compromised due to its major ingredients-sago. Manufacturers used sago cycad instead on its experiment resulting too dangerous neurotoxins in its pith and seeds, was not properly processed that leads to serious ailments like liver damage and responsible for the outbreak of darkinsons disease- like epidemic in Papua New Guinea.

Taho is not only a Filipino delicacy but also it plays a vital role to those Filipinos who depend on taho as a source of their income.

Jack Dela Pena, 78 years old, he has been selling for almost 45 years. His four sons graduated on college because of Mang Jack’s hardwork and dedication on selling taho.

Early Three o’clock in the morning, Mang Jack needs to wake up to prepare his goods. And five in the morning he will roam around all throughout the streets in Antipolo. Four in the afternoon he will go to the market to buy the ingredients needed for tomorrows. This is the daily life Mang Jack’s have. He is suffering the extreme heat but he have to do it for his family. Everyday Mang Jack earns 1,300 less the 550 capital for the ingredients.

I asked Mang Jack if he would give a chance to have another job or stay at home because his four sons graduated in college. Would he still choose selling taho?

Mang Jack proudly say yes because of selling taho he was able to give the good life for his family.

He is a reflection of many Filipinos. He may not be a rich erson in term of money, but he is very rich in courage, perseverance and hardwork. A treasure that really matters and the world must be proud of the Filipinos like Mang Jack.

How to make taho?

It is a good source of nutrients. It is rich in protein, low in fat and very affordable, that is the reason why taho is well loved by Filipinos.

For the ingredients:

½ kg ogf soybeans

4 liters of water

1 ½ sago pearls

¼ vanillas

For the syrup:

1kg of brown sugar

1 1/2 liter of water

For the procedure:

1.      First, soak beans overnight.

2.      Grind finely while adding hot water.

3.      Put soybean in a cheese cloth and squeeze out milk.

4.      Boil soy milk for atleast 10 minutes.

5.      Stir and add gulaman.

6.      Allow to boil for 10 minutes.

7.      Pass the mixture through a cheese cloth then put in a molder.

8.      Let it cool and serve with syrup.

9.      Then soak soya beans for 30 minutes in tap water.

10.  De-hull the soya beans for 8 hours with generous amount of water.

11.  After 8 hour grind the soaked beans as gfine as possible (then locked it and let it boil in 180 degrees for about 30 minutes then drained)

12.  Separate the soya milk to the soy pulp

13.  Then apply a coagulating powder (food grade calcium sulfate, magnesium chloride, nigan) Stir once ot twice until gel-like form is achieved.

14.  For the syrup, dissolve sugar in water and boil for 15 minutes.

After doing following these steps, you can now enjoy your unlimited taho right on your home.

In Baguio city, instead of using brown sugar syrup, they use strawberry falovor.

After it is truly indeed that taho gave us the good take for all the pain and trials we have ang sweetness for all the bitterness in our lives taho will make us remember that even how hard our life is, there is still taho that will relaxes our minds and temporarily forget what real life is because taho, is more fun in the Philippines!