El Tesoro Turrones Family recipe is now a popular Cebu pasalubong

CEBU, Philippines -  “It is still the same turrones that our great-great-grandparents used to eat.  It is something of the past with a touch of the present. It is still  ‘peanuts at its best.’”

This is according to Rosita Theresa “Ruth” Miranda, managing director of MSS Foods Corporation, maker of delecious delicacy and popular Cebu pasalubong El Tesoro turrones.

Turrones are rolled, baked waffle with cashew, pili or  peanuts and honey as filling.

The late Conching Bollozos, who was Miranda’s great grand-aunt, began the delicacy business way back in the 1920s  and later  handed the original recipe to her niece, Rosita “Nene” Montinola. 

Rosita converted what started as a family tradition into a business, establishing the El Tesoro Company known for  its El Tesoro de Cebu Turrones in the 1960’s.

From the third generation represented by Miranda’s father, Ramon Montinola, the company reengineered itself in 2000 under the management of MSS Foods Corporation.

Miranda revealed that in the Bollozos clan, the business will be handed over and inherited by the eldest child of the subsequent generation.

From  the dining table at the Bollozos’ residence in Manalili Street, the family moved their turrones production to a garage in Mabolo and eventually transferred to a 400-square meter facility in Talamban in 2000. 

Under the management of the fourth generation,  the company was able to expand their distribution to major supermarket chains and pasalubong outlets nationwide and even exported its Turrones to the United States.

The international market responded positively, accounting for five percent of the total market share with Cebu as the largest market with 75% sales contribution.

Still using the original formula of the late Conching Bollozos, Miranda shared that her grandmother and father were delighted with the way the small enterprise has evolved through the years. 

“Over the years, the business has expanded. We never claimed it to be our own. It’s still one big family. We kept it small, close to family,” she said.

She said that her grandmother used to remind her children and grandchildren not to sacrifice the quality of the turrones amid the commercialization of the businesses at present.

She said that the company had invested on facilities, machine and equipment, standardized its products and innovated its packaging in order to keep up with the changing market.

“Although the product is old, it should not look old-fashioned. Keep up with the time or else you will be left behind,” she continued.

Even with the rising cost of raw materials, she said that the company commits to stick with the preservation of the quality that their turrones has been known.

“You will be tempted to substitute your raw materials with cheaper brands so you can save but we do not sacrifice our products over a small, short-term gain. We never compromised the quality despite the struggles and it’s the reason we survived until now. That’s why we encourage the next generations to maintain the same quality and freshness of the turrones.

MSS Foods Corp. produces 350,000 pieces of turrones every month based on orders and demand.

The company of  35 employees is  launching a new product next year.

“El Tesoro de Cebu Turrones is a  Cebuano delicacy. It will always be Cebu’s well-kept treasure. We are not afraid to move forward but we keep what is essential,” Miranda concluded (FREEMAN) .