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Halo-halo is a popular dessert in the Philippines. The halo-halo I’m used to is a mix of crushed ice, evaporated milk, different beans, kaong, nata de coco, different types of gulaman, pinipig, langka, then topped with ube ice cream and a cube of leche flan. It’s a colorful delight and a perfect companion during summer.

So when my husband asked me to try Razon’s halo-halo a few months ago, I was game for it. But upon learning it was a very simple mix of saba bananas, shredded macapuno, leche flan, milk and ice, I wondered what was so special about it. Was that really halo-halo?, I wondered. No rainbow colors like the typical halo-halo? Just a mix of caramels and whites? Hmm. I shrugged and said I’d try it anyway.

^[2]One spoonful of that Razon’s halo-halo and BAM! I was in halo-halo love with this dessert. The mix of the saba, macapuno and milk was simple but plenty delicious. The blend was perfect! The shaved ice downplayed the sweetness of the macapuno, the creamy milk complemented the sweet bananas. Simple ingredients, fantastic taste. This broke my halo-halo stereotype.

While I still love the typical colorful halo-halo, Razon’s is way up there on my dessert list now. The colorful halo-halo I can get anywhere. This caramel and white halo-halo though, I can only get at Razon’s.