Malunggay ice cream wins raves

DAGUPAN CITY , Philippines  – If it’s hard to get your kids to eat malunggay (moringa), then give them ice cream blended with the nutritious leaves.

The malunggay ice cream prepared by agriculturist Victoria Padilla in her backyard in Barangay Nalsian, Manaoag town is making waves and stocks have already reached outlets in Baguio City.

Launched only last February, Padilla said the novelty ice cream had brisk sales in the market but they are constrained from going into large scale production due to budgetary limitations.

Padilla was a member of Italy-based SLOW Foods International which advocates consumption of healthy and nutritious foods.

Padilla said they would like to promote healthy cooking as a way to fight diseases.

She said it has been her long-time dream to bring nutritious food to the masses and malunggay ice cream is an answer to the malnutrition problem among children.

She also wants to incorporate malunggay in other foods.

One of the secrets of their malunggay ice cream is the use of fresh carabao’s milk from Asingan town that makes their product extra creamy.

Padilla said malunggay ice cream was part of the research at Don Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte but since the school is only research-based, Padilla said she decided to go into commercial production.

Still surprised by her product’s popularity, Padilla said she is now planning to put the brand brand “Agtalon malunggay ice cream,” which is an acronym for Agro Technical Assistance Livelihood Opportunities in the North. Agtalon is also an Ilocano word meaning “to farm.”

They have approached their congressman, fourth district Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., to help them sustain their venture that will tap women to go into making malunggay ice cream.

Profitability-wise, Padilla said their earnings are very encouraging.

De Venecia, after tasting the product, willingly committed to help the group and said he would help finance the project.

His wife Gina said they would help put up a malunggay nursery to ensure continuous and steady supply of the nutritious leaves.

The local government of Manaoag where Padilla is based has also launched an aggressive campaign for malunggay planting in the barangays.

Aside from malunggay ice cream, Padilla also produces tupig using muscovado that costs P5 per piece and polvoron with malunggay. A scoop of malunggay ice cream is only P10.

She wants to put up a store near Our Lady of Manaoag Church here to sell their products so that pilgrims can taste their delicious and nutritious malunggay products.

Malunggay has the calcium of four glasses of milk, the Vitamin C of seven oranges and the potassium of three bananas. Malunggay can also make the bones stronger, enrich anemic blood, is good for the eyes and is effective against cancer. Eva Visperas