BEVERAGE COOLER: SLUSHY GULAMAN DRINK

Slushy "Gulaman" Drink

"Gulaman" or gelatin drink is one very popular beverage cooler patronized by Filipinos especially during the very hot days of summer.

These are usually sold by ambulant vendors and thus, quality is sometimes suspect.

Here is a recipe which is very easy to prepare which you can let your whole family enjoy without you worrying that they'll get down with a food-borne illness. With this recipe, you don't need a blender , ice shaver or crushed ice to come up with a slushy drink. This also has lower glycemic index because I used coco sugar in place of  plain brown sugar. 

Get refreshed by this drink with less guilt! : ).

Slushy "Gulaman" Drink Recipe:

You will need:

1 cup or 110g coco sugar
1 cup water for making the coco sugar concentrate
2 cups water for diluting the coco sugar concentrate
1 package unflavored "gulaman" or gelatin powder

How to prepare:

1. Put one cup of water in a pan. Add the coco sugar into the pan.
2. Stir the mixture until coco sugar is fully dissolved. Heat the mixture until it boils. Simmer for three minutes.
3. Take the pan off the stove and cool the coco sugar concentrate.
4. When the coco sugar concentrate is already cool, place it in an empty ice cream tub. Add two cups of water to dilute the coco sugar concentrate.
5. Mix well to blend. 
6. Cover and place in the freezer. Wait until it solidifies.
7. Prepare the "gulaman" or gelatin according to package directions.

Frozen diluted coco sugar 

To serve:

1. Take out the frozen diluted coco sugar from the freezer and let it stand for about five (5) minutes or more at room temperature.
2. After five minutes, break the frozen diluted coco sugar into blocks the size of a cup.
3. Put one block each into cups and break the blocks with a spoon until you get a slushy consistency.
4. Top each slushy coco sugar drink with "gulaman" or gelatin cubes.

"Gulaman" or gelatin cubes

Coco sugar is available in leading supermarkets in Manila. I used the Coco Natura brand which is organic and 100% pure coconut sap. 

This slushy "gulaman" drink tastes slightly different from the "gulaman" drinks made with brown sugar. I found the diluted coco sugar to possess a burnt (but not bitter) caramelized flavor similar to the caramel in our leche flans (custard). It was also reminiscent of the "arnibal" or caramel used to top our "tahos".

Of course, you can always use plain brown sugar for this recipe if you are feeling less adventurous : ).

How did you find this recipe? Your comments are welcome.

BEVERAGE COOLER: LEMON LIME SODA WITH GINGER TEA ICE CUBES

Lemon Lime Soda with Ginger Tea Ice Cubes

Experience both cold and warm sensations with this  beverage cooler. It's like magic! Lemon lime and ginger, a perfect flavor blend.

Ginger Tea ice cubes

Lemon Lime Soda with Ginger Tea Ice Cubes Recipe:

You will need:

A cold bottle of your favorite lemon lime soda
Fresh ginger
2 cups of water for extracting the ginger flavor

How to prepare:

For the ginger tea ice cubes:

Wash fresh ginger and scrape peel. Slice thinly or pound a piece the size of a segment of your thumb. Boil in two cups of water then simmer in a covered pan for 5 minutes to extract the flavor. Strain off the ginger pieces and collect the ginger tea in a container. Cool the ginger tea.

When the ginger tea is already cool, pour into an ice tray and freeze.

To serve:

Place ginger tea ice cubes in champagne glasses and pour your favorite lemon lime soda into each champagne glass. Voila! A cold drink with a warming kick courtesy of the ginger tea ice cubes. No need for alcohol to feel warm : ).

Perfect for entertaining!

BEVERAGE COOLER: COCONUT WATER WITH LYCHEE ICE CUBES

Coconut water with lychee ice cubes

Jazz up and naturally sweeten coconut water with lychee ice cubes.

Recipe:

You will need:

Coconut water (from coconuts or any brand of unflavored ready-to-drink coconut water)
One (1) can of lychees in syrup

How to prepare:

Collect coconut water from coconuts

Collect coconut water from two coconuts or more depending on the amount that you want. Keep in a container and chill.

For the lychee ice cubes:

Lychee ice cubes

1. Open one can of lychees in syrup (any brand of your choice).
2. Place one whole lychee each onto one empty cube of an ice tray. Continue until the ice tray is full.
3. Pour the syrup over the lychees.
4. Freeze.

Pour chilled coconut water into glasses and place two lychee ice cubes into each glass. Enjoy!