Philippines' Butche & Karioka Snacks on Wheels

The Philippines has so many unique street snacks. Most of them are coconut based since we have plenty of coconut trees. Due to this pandemic where very few people goes out to avail them during snack time, ingenious vendors sells them on wheels right at your door steps.

Meet our street vendor who cones out in the streets every snack time which is around 4 pm. She has this native bilao wrapped in plastic to cover it from dust where the most delicious snacks are sold at very affordable prices.

The one in bamboo sticks are called Karioka or Carioca which is a type of street food in the Philippines made out of glutinous rice flour and coconut meat which is deep fried then dipped in coconut milk and sugar syrup. Sounds delicious? Well yes, it is so simple as well; it contains few ingredients and cooks so quickly. After 15-20 minutes you have an exotic (well not to Filipinos) snack to indulge or serve. Still not convinced, well think of it as munchkins (doughnut holes) but with an Asian twist, instead of flour it uses rice flour and instead of normal sugar glaze it is flavoured with coconut milk. It’s soft on the inside and crispy on the outside with a hint of coconut and warm thick sweet syrup.

The other one in sugar coated bigger than a golf ball is called Butchi. Sweetened mung beans are deliciously wrapped in glutinous rice flour and deep fried to make this yummy Pinoy snack

I love the Butche more than the karioka because of the sweetened monggo fillings inside. It only costs 20 pesos for 3 piesces. 3 gloriously good tasting balls that brings out century old Filipino tradition in making the best tasting snack ever !