SILI: WHERE THE HEART IS

by: Olwyn Jencsi Portades

Photo by: Naga City Guide

 Albay has been present since the pre-colonial period but has earned its name during the Spanish rule in the Philippines. The province is one of the six provinces constituting the Bicol Region and is home to many local specialties, some of which are pilinuts, and sili. These raw products are then processed into innovated versions, but then emerged to popularity, of all these innovations, is sili ice cream. Have you tried it?

In 2016, the hotter than summer desert boomed its way to popularity that spread all over the country. Sili Ice Cream was first introduced in 2004 by the restaurant, 1^st Colonial Grill. The home-grown restaurant was able to branch out thanks to the unique food they offer, one of which is the heart of today’s topic.

You must know, sili ice cream is considered a pride of Bicolanos, especially Albayanos because of the depth of connection it has to their culture. An extraordinary innovation does not come around so abundantly that when Elmer Boy Aspe made such a culturally rooted product, everybody was intrigued and eager to try. Not only does the product use siling labuyo as one of its main ingredients, the idea of using heat to combat the year-round heat felt in the region is just ingenious.

The modern version of this ice cream has three levels. The first level is intended to test customers and their endurance to the spiciness that is emphasized by the coolness of the desert as it trickles down your throat. The second level is also bearable but this level, compared to the first, has a kick of spiciness that customers will definitely not miss. As for the third level, it is called the Mayon Volcano level. It is figuratively compared to the heat the Mayon Volcano can emit. In analogy, this is the 100% spicy level, like that of a sugar level in boba. To ease the spiciness, the desert is paired with coconut milk. The owner of business says that once a person can finish the dish in this level, only then can they be called, Oragon. Oragon in Bicol, means that you are exceptional. Oragon ka ba?

For people who aren’t readily available to visit the branches of the restaurant in Legazpi and Naga, there are recipes found on the internet which would serve as replica of sili ice cream. However, it is best tried from where it is made, to embrace the full experience of summer in the sili capital, even during the rainy season!

Photo by: Click the City

The product gathered a lot of positive reactions in terms of flavor that practically stands out among two others, pilinut and tinutong or scorched rice. To quote, “It is delicious, creamy and chili ice cream...” says user, Jenrianna in 2016. This is not a surprise in that timeframe but even at present, the desert still receives the same reaction from tourists. User daniella345 rated her restaurant visit, 5 out of 5, specifically siting sili ice cream, “Chili Ice Cream is such a hit that there's no way we'd ever miss trying it. I had the mildest one, though. It was quite an experience.”

When coming to Albay or even in Naga, to feel the real Bicol, try 1^st Colonial Grill’s sili ice cream. Reviews are reviews. Words of the mouth is not enough of an adventure. Set out to your nearest branch, ask your family nearby. But be warned, choose your level wisely, it affects the experience and remember, engulfing one spoon of Mayon Volcano level can make you, an Oragon. Because, “Ang tunay na Oragon, nagkakaon ki lada,” and for Bicolanos, siling labuyo is just like any other.