Where the best 'Baye-baye' is made
Dolping's Baye-baye
Ilonggos are not only known for their malambing (caring) or sweet character. It has also been a place blessed with abundance of food-from the known Biscocho, Pancit Molo, Lapaz Batchoy and more. It is also known for sweet native delicacies which have been present in every household for the longest time. There's the suman, suman latik, puto lanson, kalamay hati, bitcho-bitcho, muasi (palitaw), cochinta, petche-peche, biko, sapin-sapin, puto and more. Among these, one Ilonggo favorite is the baye-baye.
Baye-baye is known to be a perfect match for coffee or sodas. It is also well-loved by children because of its sweet consistent taste. It is a mixture of scraped young coconut meat,sugar and pinipig (pounded rice grains). Some prepare it in simpler ingredients of coconut meat, sugar, grounded sticky rice (pilit or malagkit)or corn grains. But above the different kinds of preparations the best known baye-baye is in the town of Pavia.
Pavia's baye-baye is one of the oldest industry that originated from Barangay Cabugao Sur. It is also the smallest barangay of the town. Other than the baye-baye, it also manufactures pinipig or roasted and pounded rice grain. The barangay owns a 48-year old 'ligis', a locally-made machine made of the trunk of the Mabolo tree, used to pound the rice grain.
The Process
Pavia's best baye-baye is made from carefully selected ingredients. The choice of coconut, kind of sugar used and how well the pinipig was made counts a lot in the cooking. It's mixture would also depend on the proportions of its ingredients. Baye-baye-making in itself is not laborious but all it needs is completion of the ingredients before its preparation.
A baye-baye maker first prepares the pinipig and scrape the young coconut for grinding. These will then be mixed together. Ten minutes or more, sugar of exact proportion for the mixture will be added. After which, the baye-baye will be wrapped, placed inside a closed container or ready to be served. Baye-baye is also best served when chilled and can easily be prepared at home . For any day, occasions or if you simply have the craving for baye-baye, visit Barangay Cabugao Sur, Pavia. Try it and taste the difference.