An old fashioned ice cream from Texas

ICE CREAM, a frozen dessert usually made from milk and cream, was introduced by the Americans at the turn of the century. Without modern refrigeration then, ice cream was considered a luxury item, which only the elite enjoyed. Not to be left out, the ordinary Pinoy took pleasure in Mais con Hielo, Mongo con Hielo and Halo-Halo, prepared with crushed or shaved ice—the closest to enjoying the frozen cream.

But with a very resourceful nature, Filipinos started to make ice cream using carabao’s milk in the “garapinyera,” an artisanal method of making ice cream by hand. “Sorbetes” or traditionally made Filipino ice cream became popularly known as “dirty ice cream”, so named since it was peddled in the streets. I remember defying the strict orders of nuns at St. Paul’s College of Manila where I studied not to buy the ice cream in colorful carts outside the school gates. My favorite flavors then were “mantecado,” “langka” and “ube”.

Then came Magnolia in 1925 and Selecta (Arce ice cream) in 1935 that pioneered in ice cream making in the Philippines. Over the years, so many more big brands, local and imported, will delight Filipinos with ice cream products. In fact, I cannot keep track of the numerous ice cream brands that are available in the market today.

Recently introduced here is Blue Bell Ice Cream that comes all the way from Brenham, in Texas. The story goes back to local farmers who put up Brenham Creamery Company and started making butter in 1907. In 1911, it came up with a gallon or two of hand-cranked ice cream a day. The homemade ice cream was packed in wooden tub with ice and salt and delivered by horse and wagon to a few friends and neighbors. Like any good product, only the best ingredients were used. By 1930, the company changed its name to Blue Bell Creameries after the native Texas bluebell wild flower and concentrated on the production of ice cream, the old-fashioned way.

Yes, Blue Bell, which ranks as the third largest selling ice cream in the USA, is available in Cebu City. They are conveniently available in pints and half pints in several flavors including Homemade Vanilla, Cookies & Cream, Moo-llenium Crunch and more. Blue Bell also has single-serve frozen snacks like Almond Bar, Chocolate Chip Country Cookie, Vanilla and Cookies & Cream Country Cones.

The Visfood Corporation exclusively distributes Blue Bell Ice Cream. Willie and Pilar Puno’s two enterprising daughters are behind the growing company—Aina Puno-Sanchez as VP for Operations and Ebe Puno as VP for Marketing.

A US-based cousin, Jeff Puno, sits as President of Visfood Corporation, which is an affiliate of Manila-based Foodzone that has been in food service distribution business for the last 16 years.