Brits Try Halo Halo For The First Time!! | Sorted Food

We're out and about trying Halo Halo, the filipino shaved ice dessert. Where's the best one in London? Can we make it from scratch back in the studio?
Get the recipe: bit.ly/halohalo...
Wanna become an awesome home cook? Sign up to our Sidekick app and be the hero of your kitchen: bit.ly/3tfFgsR

[@TheWrecker18]

This was way funnier than I've expected . As a filipino, and don't take it the wrong way this is the poshiest halo halo recipe I've seen. YOu should probably try the original filipino recipe. And also it's called halo-halo not only because it is a mixture of a lot of ingredients it' called halo halo because you have to practically mix everything in before taking a spoonful. Never eat halo halo by individual ingredients. but this was a fun vid though

[@lancetorres9503]

Yes! Y'all should try the original filipino halo halo! The 20-25 pesos is the real deal!!

[@kawawangkowboy9566]

I don't know... I never like to mix up my halo halo until the last few spoons full

[@grizzlydroidy]

Halo Halo differs per region it is served in, mainly because there are some fruits that are not available in other places on the Philippines. We have a very famous one that has around 20 different ingredients (Halo Halo de Iloko) ranging from ube, leche flan (caramel pudding) sweetened bananas, melon, jackfruit, sago pearls, pinipig (powdered immature glutinous rice, and more. On the other hand there's another famous variant (Razon's) that has around less than 10 ingredients which are mainly macapuno and coconut shavings. The staple that's included in all of them is milk, in our case here it's Evaporated Milk. P.S. Don't forget to mix it. 'Halo' literally means 'mix'

[@bigstunna2049]

Thanks for mentioning it to them

[@jlhabitan50]

I tried the Kapampangan one from Razon's recently, and it is certainly not the halo-halo I'm used to eating on a hot day but is equally delicious just as well.

[@nousdefions9600]

I agree, it does vary per region. But regardless, it never lost its essence.

[@tahtahresa]

What you tried looked like a cool, modern version, but I guarantee that you would love the traditional halo-halo. Also, since halo-halo means mix-mix that means you literally have to mix everything together. Give it a try next time!

[@SortedFood]

Noted! Silly us :)

[@shybeth03]

You need to put it in a big glass in order to mix it all together, too! :) more ice and more milk, a spoonful of each component is enough. Traditionally, you need to boil the garbanzo bean with sugar so that it will almost taste like candies, and the beans shouldnt be mashed. :)

[@rachkate76]

HiHo Kids tried halo halo.

[@hafadaiboi]

I actually thought that this is close to #traditional Halo Halo. It was a very good attempt, given the fact that you haven't had one before and you don't have access to all ingredients.

[@dyamoy]

Yeah, that was the best part. Mixing it all together.

[@dajoler]

Admirable job gentlemen! Everyone saying "Oh, it's not right, that's not halo-halo" I think is missing the point; this is just a version of the dessert and it's meant to sort of be the gateway to other versions; I know of versions without bananas but with jackfruit instead, versions without ice cream and just straight ube jam, versions where the evaporated milk is frozen into a block and shaved, etc. I'd like to thank the SortedFood guys for bringing this relatively obscure dessert from my heritage to the public's knowledge. Would love to see you guys in the Philippines sometime for more food adventures!

[@noonynoonynoo]

TheGuitar Person Same!🍻

[@christianmillendez1992]

i always thought halo-halo was that one filipino dish that anyone can suit to their tastes (i don't like navy beans and always wished there was something else to replace it---like grass jelly, why not?).

[@wheezy_squeezy]

I severely appreciate James. Please allow us to see him more. Thank you 😊

[@Meve76]

i want a "james week"^^

[@MrAlFuture]

yes!

[@NikkiG13579]

Meve76 AGREED

[@sahmer84]

Authentic or not, as a Filipino, I'm delighted that you tried our country's pride, "Halo-halo". Thanks guys! It's about time for Filipino cuisine to be given a chance to be recognized on the international audience. There's more to try guys! Sinigang, Kare-kare, Adobo and Dinuguan are some of our signature dishes. God bless you.

[@ianjeremygarcia8644]

James, cook the chick peas in the sugar syrup next time versus boiling then adding the sugar syrup. You should get a better result 👍

[@Make-fabulous-cakes]

The authentic way doesn't use chickpeas. Two colours of kidney beans are used, the red and the white and yes, cooked in sugar syrup and served whole and not mushed up.

[@ianjeremygarcia8644]

Make Fabulous Cakes if you've been watching them for a while you should know that "authentic" has never been these guys' point. They interpret and make things easier for them and their audience. Im so tired of the comments complaining about authenticity. James wanted chickpeas in his, let him do whatever the hell he wants

[@MEANfied]

+Make Fabulous Cakes the authentic way uses cheekpeas (gabanzo) but really there's no "authentic" recipé gotta put what you want and make a milk rain hahaha

[@miseriacanterai]

Ian Jeremy Garcia yessss

[@spicywickedme]

Have to agree, with so many provinces each one has its own version they consider 'authentic'. However, most western versions rarely come close to halo halo recipes. It's tweaked and "whitewashed" so much that it somehow diminishes what this Filipino treat is supposed to be like.

[@diamgarcia7077]

It is important to note that halo-halo differs in the Philippines, almost every town has a variation. But well, the most basic halo-halo I grew up with would always contain the following: 1. sweetened plantains (plantains boiled in brown sugar for a very long time) 2. sweetened sweet potatoes (boiled in the same way as the plantains) 3. PINIPIG!!! (pounded glutinous rice) 4. Sago/ Tapioca (make sure you get the big ones, the small ones are usually for juices) 5. Leche Flan (creme caramel would do but leche flan has a different richness because it is made of condensed milk) 6. Ube (in most stores they would use Ube Halaya which by the way requires a lot of time and effort to make) 7. Colorful Gulamans (made from agar or gelatin) 8. Nata de Coco 9. A lot of Evaporated milk! (Like you are supposed to drown the ice with it) The ice cream is not really required since it will make the halo-halo more expensive, but it's a very nice addition anyway. Personally, when I buy halo-halo I usually tell the vendors to exclude the beans because I usually don't enjoy it that much. Mango is also not a good addition, I haven't seen a halo-halo with one. Great fruit additions would be melon, or young coconut meat, or jackfruit! Also, I would recommend that you use a taller glass or a glass with more space since halo-halo is supposed to be mixed. Like literally mix the whole thing. So when you taste it you will get different bursts of flavors because the ingredients have been mixed together. I would also suggest that you put majority of the ingredients at the bottom so you can mix it easily. I am very glad you tried it though, but I really hope you can retry it in the future or taste a legitimate version.

[@msabolijoshi]

Love how detailed this is, Sorted guys take note!

[@stalewich]

This little Filipino boy got too happy seeing this in my sub box. Then got kinda sad watching y'all make it lol. My recipe: tall glass, half with shaved ice, all kinds of palm jellies, beans, and ube ice cream to fill the rest, topped with condensed milk and flan 🍮 😋 Also, "hah-loh hah-loh"

[@MEANfied]

"Sorted"

[@StaticSunflower]

This is my way exactly, just with added jello squares and puffed crunchy rice bits on top! :)

[@ShiranaiMitsuko]

Thank you for featuring our dessert! though it may not seem like traditional halo2x (don't mind the haters), but as a Filipino, this video made me really happy :D halo-halo = mix mix, so mix it first before eating! oh, and the Ice cream goes on top and typically no mint ;)

[@thisispatty998]

Make Kushari! It's a traditional Egyptian dish made with macaroni, lentils and rice, tomato sauce, fried onions and chickpeas (and it's absolutely delicious) or any other Egyptian dish really (Mulukhiyah etc.)

[@werlords2573]

thisispatty998 true they should

[@hendmoustapha8450]

Finally someone else said it! I've been telling them for years to make kushari or anything Egyptian!

[@ToppyTree]

wow that looks interesting in a good way

[@marwolaethgwyn]

thisispatty998 i just googled Kushari and apart from you making it sound tasty, it looks so yummy!! I might need to attempt and find a good recipe :D

[@ToppyTree]

and what does Mulukhiyah taste like?

[@HughHuynh93]

Everyone's saltiness aside, I love this episode! We haven't had many episodes with James in them, so I loved this Ben/James team up and actually making something as opposed to just talking about food!

[@haimaru5366]

Is it just me? I think they misinterpreted the kidney beans... I'm pretty sure that was supposed to be red bean(anzu) paste.

[@nevillelongbottom106]

Hannah Pollard ben also said he was making tapioca pearls when he was boiling the sago pearls. They're not the same.

[@sairafranco4079]

Neville Longbottom The bag from the shopping section said Tapioca Pearls (2:05) but from what I've heard they're similar enough to be good substitutes.

[@annah54321]

You mean anko

[@noonynoonynoo]

Depending on the amount of time they're cooked and how they're handled, the kidney/adzuki beans sometimes do get mashed into a rough paste but they are included more for the texture. Halohalo (long A) is all about contrasting textures--gooey 'ube halaya', soft chewy bubbles of sago the size of your fingernail, crisp fruity pieces of jackfruit, tender disks of banana or (traditionally) plantain, wobbly cubes of jelly (usually extracted from seaweed), crunchy toasted pinipig (toasted rolled rice, kind of like rice crispies), caramel richness of the custard and a thousand little snowflakes of shaved ice (ice cream optional) melting into the milk. Absolutely life-saving on a hot summer (temps here go upwards of 30°C).

[@hafadaiboi]

Traditionally, halohalo does not use anzu. It uses whole candied kidney beans. Usually white.

[@cheesepants9833]

You could also try turon! It's basically like a fried sweet banana eggroll dessert. It would be really interesting to see you make it.

[@violetskies14]

Ooh I know you wrote this comment 2 years ago but that sounds delicious!

[@markyofm]

I love watching your videos... I’m Filipino and I’m impressed of how you’ve prepared the halo-halo (and even the Chicken Adobo in the other video)... You’ve given new ways and ideas to make this traditional Filipino dessert more special... Great job and more power to you!

[@Kodamakitty]

Well, you're about to get a bunch of different recipes, so here's mine: Shaved Ice Nata de Coco (which I've been seeing a lot more of lately) Macapuno strings Sweet red beans Sweet white beans Jackfruit strips (and some of the sweet syrup in the jar) Condensed Milk plus regular milk to loosen it up a bit Thanks for giving this a go, guys! -xxoo

[@rainbowmistCEH28]

Put shave ice in the bottom of the bowl, then put a tablespoon of all that ingredients. Pour condense milk covering the shaved ice. Halo-halo means mix-mix so you should mix all the ingredients in that bowl. It will not look as appetizing as before but the taste is much different, that's how we eat it in the Philippines.

[@noonynoonynoo]

Rainbow Mist Nah I eat mine separately.

[@rebekahgyger3006]

One of my favorite treats is candied chickpeas. They are so good without being too sweet, and I eat them while watching movies instead of eating popcorn.

[@cupcakekingdom4117]

I'm not an expert at all on Halo Halo but I definately ate enough red bean paste products in my life to ask this: Shouldn't you be using Azuki beans?

[@traxx17]

Yes the should have. Kidney Beans in dessert kinda freaked me out! Haha!

[@cupcakekingdom4117]

traxx17 omg me too. As soon as they said Kidney beans I was like "...What?" and it made me cringe.

[@cupcakekingdom4117]

calamitasCorvus I guess Kidney beans can be used since they have more of a sweet-ish taste to them too but I think if you plan on making a specific dessert item like this, you can buy Azuki beans since it's not something you make every week or so.

[@mabyyy485]

Filipinos actually use kidney beans... since it is widely available here in the Philippines, unlike Azuki.

[@angeliquemaealconera2336]

Nope, we filipinos really use kidney beans! Sorry fam :) I don't think I've ever seen azuki beans here either hehe

[@kenconcepcion3951]

The Filipino version does not have a sprig of mint on it, strawberry jelly, banana (isn't part of the popularized version here in the Philippines). There are also other versions of halo-halo here in the Philippines, the one you guys ate at the restaurant is a popular version. There's a milk version and there's also a pampanga version, basically a lot. Halo means mix in filipino.

[@lillycollier7915]

The british way he says halo halo😭😭

[@SortedFood]

Let us know how to pronounce it!

[@lillycollier7915]

SORTEDfood nahh its the filipino accent youre missing. Not theyre fault 😂

[@lillycollier7915]

ALJustice0 yeah basically

[@ThinJizzy]

ALJustice0 not quite "low" but more like "loh" but more abrupt.

[@retro527]

"Hah-loh Hah-loh" it's two distinct syllables basically XD

[@monchstaclara]

jackfruit instead of mango and toasted rice krispies for more crunch

[@angeliquemaealconera2336]

Agreed! And/or caramelized bananas :)

[@florencialin5357]

Oh boy, kidney beans are not the same as aduki

[@Shivana246]

he wanted to try something different. how are you not seeing that?

[@cianc1]

They literally said they were trying out their own version...

[@FaultAndDakranon]

I know! They both indicated they didn't know the difference. I wasn't surprised Jamie confused Adzuki with kidney, but Japan loving food geek Ben? 0.o

[@wwaxwork]

They didn't confuse it they actually said they were trying something different. I am guessing because not everyone can get hold of aduki beans.

[@MahoushiFaust]

I don't know about London (or the China Town there) but it's very difficult to get adzuki beans here, but kidney beans are everywhere.

[@johndoe-zs6gf]

The best thing in this video is to see how much fun James has trying something new.

[@spudmyster]

Love it when james gets involved. Like to show the ladssss so they can get him involved moreee

[@itscristinawithnoh]

Yay, my beloved halo halo! I loved the different takes on this. There’s absolutely no “right” way to do this because it really is about your preference (different regions/Filipino households I’ve encountered have their own versions), but if you do revisit, try mixing it all together!

[@benjaminwalcott]

I love that James is getting more camera time instead of just developing the recipes behind the scenes!

[@younailedit]

And i love that you guys just try everything eventhough you don't know everything about it

[@shaniacruz8546]

Well halo-halo means mix they ate it wrong they should've mixed it first before eating

[@shaniacruz8546]

And as a filipino the best bits are the sweet beans and the panda de coco

[@shaniacruz8546]

Oh yeah the beans you've added are wrong 😊

[@shaniacruz8546]

Also the pearls should be bigger.

[@shaniacruz8546]

More evap milk is much better then the ube must go at the top. But good rendition tho.

[@marisarabia7572]

their pronunciation of halo halo is the cutest thing I love it

[@alyannamendoza4629]

I CLICKED AS SOON AS I READ HALOHALO IN MY NOTIFS

[@rich-9627]

The one you guys made is similar to the traditional one! Except the mint & mango. But you forgot the most important part, to mix. You ate it like you're eating bingsu (korean shaved ice dessert). Good job!

[@Twinrabbit]

As a Filipino, the halo halo you tasted is a hipster monstrosity far removed from the original halo halo.

[@SortedFood]

How did we do on making it then? Equally as hipster?

[@earlparma5080]

SORTEDfood totally agree with Justin. Sorted also missed the point of mixing it before eating. Hence "Halo"

[@calictolentino3949]

so? food has been modernized every time. dont be food purist

[@noamboniij]

SORTEDfood not really. at least it wasnt gross like BonAppetit's version. look it up. they literally murdered halo-halo 🙊😂😂

[@andreaasdfghjjkl]

Well yeah it's definitely been hipster-ized, but I loved it anyway!! I would have added more ube to the ice cream tho, and more beans cuz i just love beans. And freeze the milk, then turn into milk ice and blitz it.

[@judeaquino9457]

Salamat po for featuring our summer time favorite chiller called halo halo. The reason it is called so is that you have to mix (halo) all the ingredients. It is best when it has lots of milk and sugar(according to taste preference). Thanks for trying it yourselves and sharing.

[@tipsfedora3714]

its quite different from how i usually have it. And i personally like mine with a shit ton of ube. But hey, looks good!

[@kUr0k0chan]

Something my mom does is put various jellied fruits and cherry halves for sweetness and texture, and heaps more shredded coconut all throughout, so when you layer it it looks like purple gradient with pops of colour.

[@heart_ablaze_podcast]

Knowing Ben being always well prepared, I almost expected him to pull out his own mint from inside his sleeve

[@rawbomagaj1811]

Hi, i am a US based Filipino. I grew up on halo halo. The traditional halo halo is usually placed in a "taller" parfait type glass not the flatter one you used in this video. By "taller" i mean you will need the space because you need to literally mix the ingredients altogether so when you eat them, all the ingredients are mixed to the ice just like mixing all ingredients of a soup so they are mixed together in a soup. Yes, the aesthetic part is gone when you start eating them. But the ice cream is partially eaten, maybe half of the ice cream, before i start mixing halo halo. Through the years though, as i was growing up, i eat some of the ingredients partially while they are still not "crushed and mixed" so i can have a taste of the ingredients in their original form. There are no strict rules though. But mixing the ingredients is part of the experience of eating halo halo. Great video guys!!!

[@epiyawne]

FUCK YES! Filipino dessert!!!!!

[@sarahedejer8555]

I am 100% Filipina and can I just say, you guys did an amazing job! Yes, it's not traditional but 1/ I definitely would still call that halo-halo and 2/ you're Sorted and you put your own twist on things. Next time, just use a bigger glass so you can mix it. That's the beauty of halo-halo. ;)

[@jjanelle08]

halo halo is one of these things that people debate about.. but the "traditional" "premium" halohalo i've always known comes with the following ingredients: 1. sweet kidney beans 2. sweet red beans (the smaller ones) 3. sweet cannellini beans (white beans) 4. sweet chickpeas/garbanzos 5. palm jelly (kaong) 6. nata de coco (coconut jelly) 7. gulaman (colored gelatin) 8. macapuno (it's a diff kind of coconut - stickier) 9. ube jam 10. sago (tapioca - usually the big white ones, not the black ones) 11. sweetened jackfruit (like from a can) 12. sweet saba (plantain) 13. pinipig (toasted young rice) (you can also substitute rice krispies, but it doesn't quite taste the same) 14. leche flan 15. ice cream (ube is traditional, but any flavor is acceptable) 16. evaporated milk 17. sugar syrup 18. shaved ice and yes. you must mix everything. it's okay to eat some ice cream and flan first.

[@jjanelle08]

also, really glad to see filipino food represent! :) i love watching your channel!

[@noonynoonynoo]

I don't mix mine. Tastes fine that way too.

[@jjanelle08]

noonynoonynoo uh sure. Up to you, I guess. But as the name of the dish suggests, it is highly recommended that you mix mix it. :)

[@dominique_9]

I'm a Filipino and my family always makes this during the summer. The traditional halo halo usually has shaved ice, evaporated milk, sugar, jelly, nata de coco, sago or tapioca pearls, sweetened kidney beans, sweetened plantains, macapuno or coconut, rice crispies, leche flan, and ube.

[@julieaytonyates7121]

Lol Jamie's Kim il Jong's inspired hairstyle😁

[@lunarshikari]

I really enjoyed your take on halo halo! It's a very fresh perspective and I appreciated the use of chickpeas! Like everyone else said in the comments, you really need to mix the dessert and have a little bit of everything in one spoon. I also usually prefer more shaved ice, more evaporated milk, and a drizzle of condensed milk on top. Halo halo turns into slush quickly, which is great for those summer days where you breathe and you instantly become covered in sweat. Not too big of a fan of jackfruit, but it gives halo halo a certain kind of sweetness that just tastes right. Thanks again for making this dessert! P.S. I love how Ben got so excited over the mint. What a super geek :)

[@TSMChaox]

love seeing james and ben working together

[@quynh-chitran3558]

Che is the best!!! As a vietnamese person, nothing is better than the dessert che and you have so many different flavor combinations and options and it can be hot, cold ahh ❤️

[@xoczarina]

noooo!! ben you don't put the ube jam on the very bottom of the glass!! and you should mix everything up before you eat it. it tastes better that way.

[@sweet1295]

Definitely buying halo halo tomorrow after this! The best part is when you mix it all together. My favourite part of the halo-halo is saba! You should try putting some when you do it again. Saba is a specific type of banana (primarily used for cooking in the Philippines). It is usually boiled and cooked in a sugary syrup. Adding that will make it so much better. Also, like what many others said, the best way to eat the halo-halo is to mix it all together until everything is completely combined. The best!!!! ❤️

[@erikas8130]

I love my Halo-Halo with LOTS of evaporated milk! I also love Razon's Halo-Halo(more like saba con hielo imho) just caramelized bananas, sago, sweetened kidney beans, leche flan, and lots and lots of evap ❤️.

[@SuperMaccoi]

Erika S ... try Kuya J's Halo Halo... way better than Razon's :)

[@hafadaiboi]

Razon's Halohalo is not real halohalo, which is a dish that celebrates colors, flavors and textures. I've had Razon's a few times and I always felt like someone cheated me out of the experience of seeing a colorful bowl of halohalo that is brimming with the flavors of the tropics...instead I got served by a glass so pale that it felt like someone dropped a glass of real halohalo and all the life drained out of it.

[@erikas8130]

SuperMaccoi PH Oohh I haven't tried Kuya J's yet, but people I know also say it's great!

[@sugarcrashs9394]

From Philippines here & I love ur channel! Halo-halo is one of the best dessert here in Philippines esp during summer season. It's best eaten definitely during hot season. and the ice shouldn't be as fine as what u did, and mix it before eating. I suggest replacing mango with jackfruit instead. Use taller glass, btw.

[@arvinyason]

Great job...should have been nata de coco not coconut strips. In the Philippines certain regions pare it down to 2-3 ingredients though...flan, jellied macapuno (a variation/malformed coconut--look it up), and lots of finely shaved ice and evaporated milk.

[@noonynoonynoo]

Arvin Yason WTF Macapuno isn't "malformed". That's disgusting. It's just a different variety of coconut plant.

[@jordanbarbranava334]

What i like about halo halo is that you get to mix-mix whatever ingredients you like! A popular halo halo here (one of my favorites) uses sweetened shredded young coconut (macapuno), sweetened 'saba' bananas (similar to plantains, but not quite), fine ice, creme caramel, and creamy, sweetened milk. Some halo halo recipes have shredded processed cheese and they're pretty good too! I appreciate how thorough James' research was, that he decided to go with the chickpeas (with the seemingly sinister idea of challenging everyone's tastebuds...) 👍 Oh, Jamie's face when he heard about the chickpeas? Priceless! 🤣

[@TheToobdood]

Brainfreeze week sounds like a bunch of sweet stuff, nightmarish for someone who is fructose intolerant. Good time to request some recipes with sugar alternatives!

[@RandyMangubat]

Halo Halo is traditionally served in a tall cup or glass, normally a glass for milk shakes with a straw and a long dessert spoon so you can really "mix-mix" it. Also, you could try ube and mango ice cream, and rice crispies for crunch.

[@GoShSoOrAnDoMm]

James Week pleeeaasseee

[@rmdmmd4026]

Use a parfait glass so you can put in more ingredients. Halo-halo usually has between 10-12 (or more!) ingredients. It has: sweetened plantains (saba banana), chickpeas, red beans, nata de coco, kaong, macapuno, jackfruit, pinipig (pounded young rice grains), yellow corn kernels (or creamed corn), gulaman (jelly)... topped with crushed ice. Served with Ube jam (or ube halaya), flan and ice cream on top and evaporated milk. It is also meant to be stirred together (halo - which means to stir) before you eat it.

[@jayceeocampo7]

It's not the traditional halo-halo. Braced yourselves, the angry filipinos are coming.

[@icka.]

Jaycee Ocampo ik! They put mango in it. And im like WHAT?!

[@matt-tn3qr]

Ah filipinos

[@misslockwood6530]

SUGOOOOODDDD

[@AcutePanic41]

My filipino wife is angry at this! You don't dare make your own version of Halo Halo... you will be killed violently.

[@metademetra]

No NameGiven But wouldn’t that mean culture would stagnate?

[@studioEsperGaming]

I love that you guys are trying Filipino dishes! I grew up in the Philippines and I'd love to see more. As for the halo-halo it's a really good start. The thing with halo-halo is you can make it however you like. When I was younger I'd just assemble the ingredients myself and I'd leave the beans, load up on pinipig and jellies and douse everything in evaporated milk then toss in the flan on top. Definitely one improvement I could say is I'd looove to see you guys make your own flan. Also soak everything in evaporated milk. Try pinipig! It adds fantastic texture. Jackfruit is an acquired taste but I love it personally. I don't see anything wrong with the mango. I like mangos. Also when you eat it just mix everything up in the glass. Every bite should have little bits of the different flavors.

[@nathanridgway4470]

Is it just me or was that lady shaking?

[@Oktoberry]

Nathan Gaming A bit nerveus about being filmed i guess.

[@shannon655]

I think she was probably just nervous because she wasn't expecting to have to put it together in front of them whilst being filmed, I'd be like that too to be fair.

[@Wulferious]

Wasn't just you. Poor girl must have had a case of nerves being on camera knowing that the video was going on KZbin with THOUSANDS of watchers. I can sympathise.

[@Catch2910]

Ben being so excited to learn is awesome! You guys should do an updated Made Personal so we can see what else you've learned and incorporated into your lives.

[@nickstratton7256]

filipino bingsu?

[@BananononJakuzure]

Nick Stratton My thoughts exactly.

[@epiyawne]

Nick Stratton Kind of... but coarser ice. Korean bingsu is the bombbbbb

[@jordanbarbranava334]

Nick Stratton yes, similar, but not quite. Halo halo is believed by local food historians to be derived from Japanese shaved ice. It is believed to have developed (and increased in popularity) at a time when the Americans introduced the ice box in the Philippines. 😊

[@Oyashio202]

halo halo is suppose to be a drink while bingsu is usually eaten while sat down down from a bowl. Bingsu is honestly lighter with less stuff going on. Halo halo is more like a college filipino drunk who really liked sweets decided to make a drink that needed a blender but his blender broke.

[@noonynoonynoo]

Gnat Foehn YEP!

[@theshawty1101]

Chickpeas are also commonly used in South India in desserts. One of my fave desserts is boiled chickpeas mixed with jaggery (unrefined cane sugar molasses type) and then stuffed into a dumpling and steamed. sooo good

[@Crisperz]

Personally I don't think the series got REALLY good until halo halo 2. Stopped being good after halo halo reach though.

[@dietolina]

You should cook some Piedmontese dishes (Italy) 1- bagnacauda, it is a kind of anchovies soup boiled for hours with garlic and served like fondue in a pot with a light and people dip veggies and meat in it 2 - Semolino dolce , it is basically deep fried custard and it is the best!

[@ambys1709]

BALIW. GO TO PHILIPPINES TO GET THE REAL FRIGGIN STUFF!

[@FiliFoodDiaries]

Great vid guys, given what ingredients we have access to in the UK, this was top! Some recipes even have creamed corn - don’t ask. My favourite part is the creme caramel aka leche flan and using a homemade version would give it that special touch 👌🏽

[@patriciago2539]

I personally use sweetened frozen milk and crushed it to have a creamy texture, easier to mix, and to make sure that the milky taste are from top to bottom. For the toppings, meaty macapuno strings, nata de coco, caramelized saba/ any type of banana, ube jam, glazed jackfruit, homemade leche flan, crunchy corn flakes/ rice crispies/ pinipig, red mung beans, tapioca/ sago, kaong or palm nuts, gelatin, ice cream and drizzles of ube cream.

[@snigdhabharadwaj3591]

Cook Litti - Chokha (a famous dish from North India, made with wheat flour balls filled with powdered toasted gram called sattu is roasted and dipped in ghee and served with mashed potatoes) or Daab Chingdi (a prawn/shrimp cooked in tender coconut recipe)......

[@krissypoooh]

I'm seriously proud of your 'London's Best' series, but also the exploring other food ones - and i love this dessert mostly...and for all its versions, i think it's based on lots of preserves - the fresh versions with honey-ed jack fruit won't quite taste the same...but i think that's more the pricier non-street gourmet version.

[@sujudiehardfan]

this is almost the same as Ais Kacang in my country Malaysia... absolutely delicious... i love how every country have their own version of shaved ice... Shaved ice is amazing!!!

[@ingridsolaina8508]

You should try adding “saba” (another type of banana but shorter and ‘fatter’ than normal ones) boiled with its skin on then peel and let it boil again or simmer with sugar syrup like a compote. We sometimes add jackfruit infused with sugar syrup too.

[@traxx17]

What you created is pretty spot on considering it's hard to find the ingredients outside the Philippines. Halo-Halo is not a stuck up dish that you need to have all the ingredients to call it that. Here in the Philippines, you can find Halo-Halo from the streets to high-end restaurants so understandably the quality and number of ingredients vary. But for me the must haves are Evaporated Milk, Ube, Leche Flan (Creme Caramel) and Coconut Jelly. And also it would help if you can find the bottled sweetened beans made for Halo-Halo. We usually add sweet white beans, sweet chick peas and sweet red beans, not Kidney more like Adzuki Beans. Thanks for taking an interest in Filipino food. You'll find plenty more delicious dishes to try from our cuisine.

[@duraibrahim6822]

About the chickpeas, here where i live (brunei), we boil the chickpeas with a little bit of sugar, strain and just eat it on its own. We buy it usually at the local night market and its really tasty

[@hey_gayle]

I agree with the comments about tall glass and mix it until it doesnt look anything like how it is served or presented.. You distribute the sweetness and every bits and pieces surprises you in every scoop this way.. Waah ~ tho its quiet cold and rainy in ph, this makes me want some halohalo!

[@flamyamy]

I have made chickpea chocolate chip cookies before, the rich taste and thick texture of the chickpeas made them taste very indulgent! made them many times now because they are so nice!

[@annaangela]

Traditional Halo Halo has way more shaved ice and evap milk (but I use condensed milk because sugar is life, haha) because it helps the whole thing actually get mixed. When the ice melts, it just about becomes drinkable. You made a very hipster looking Halo Halo, but great job for your first time! The boba pearls didn't belong though because we've got whole different desserts using them! We call it sago and use it for Sago't Gulaman or with Taho. Try 'em! They're yummy, too.

[@ApostleOfKabunyan]

every time they say halo halo I can't stop chuckling, amazing work on your halo halo :D

[@sensoine]

my fave ingredient of halo-halo is Macapuno, then LecheFlan, Ube, Natadecoco, and some beans. put it in a tall glass by the way :)

[@baam710]

I love halo halo! as a Filipino, it's something I've always liked. one of the things I do personally, and a lot of my family members do, it actually mix everything together and blend flavors than just choosing different bits. I also recommend condensed milk on top too! my family has put condensed milk instead of simple sugar in the shaved ice. Most of the time I eat halo halo it's all just piled into a red solo cup.

[@LSDMCraika]

Cook it in sugar. I personally cook the tapioca pearls in brown sugar with some pandan leaves and vanilla. The kidney beans or any beans you put in it should bean cooked in sugar too and the jackfruit and banana if add them. This process eliminates you adding extra sugar to the ice. I just freeze a mixture of water and evaporated milk for the shaved ice and add extra evaporated if the person wants more. The purple I like using is normally the one that grows in the vine but there none here in the US. You should add rice crispy too.

[@rjpena6273]

Looking through your guys replys in the comments I appreciate how open minded you guys are! Good job!

[@obaroya]

I have a lot of Filipino friends, so when I used to go to their house and had halo halo, they put in the sweet kidney beans, sweet white beans, crushed ice, condensed milk, coconut sport, which is shreds of young coconut in sugar syrup, sugar palm seeds in sugar syrup, and then whatever fruit you wanted (I put in mango, jackfruit and banana). I never had sweet beans before so as a kid, it was weird at first, but then I grew to like it.

[@mingzw0913]

Please try Mango pomelo sago! It's a traditional Cantonese desert that has tons of mango with pomelo, coconut, and even aloe. I love it and have it every year when I am home for the summer.

[@jomi025]

Yay! You guys finally did it! Your halo-halo recreation is definitely a lot more authentic than the one you tried in the cafe. And yep, some do use chick peas in their halo-halo recipes. I'm more used to white beans & red azuki beans, though. And I would've cooked some ripe jackfruit pieces & bananas in the sugar syrup, too. Sweetened bananas & jackfruit are kind of a staple in halo-halo here in the PH. Oh, and definitely add a lot more evap milk. 😊

[@JustysLife]

As a person who eats halo-halo (and makes them during summers), James's version was more traditional in a sense - with what's in it. Instead of making the sugar syrup separate from the boiling of beans, add it in while you boil them - it gives the beans a more incorporated flavor. :) and add some evaporated milk with the shaved ice as well :)) the milkier, the better! LOL! If you want more texture to it, add puffed glutenous rice - also called "pinipig" check if your local asian supermarkets have them :) sprinkle that on top and it'll be amazing!

[@KayteeT]

lol a week late but whenever i eat halo halo, there's usually more liquid (milk/evap) in a big container so all the ingredients can be mixed and better to eat because your spoon would be filled with different kinds of textures rather than just having all beans or all ice

[@wolfferoni]

Asian desserts and pastries often has chickpeas as a filling. A popular one is glutinous flour ball filled with mashed chickpeas and deepfried.

[@joelelechosa9102]

Good attempt guys! Traditionally it is served in a tall glass with shaved ice on top, garnished with ice cream, creme caramel, and ube. Finished with evaporated milk. With the other items, it is on point, you could even add a shoe string of rockmelon, young coconut, coconut jelly, rice crispies and other sweet things. The possibilities are endless. When eating it you have to mix everything, so you will have a mix of everything or have a spoonful of different flavors. and after eating all the solid components you will have to finish it off by drinking the milk or whatever liquid that is left in the glass.

[@janicatorculas6677]

We don't normally put in chickpeas in but we put kidney beans, coconut jelly, leche flan, different types of jelly, "saba" or bananas in a caramel reduction thing, shredded macapuno, cornflakes, and ice cream. Doesn't really have to be ube ice cream, but most like the pairing of halo halo with ube ice cream

[@ukichooch]

Yes!! I have a couple Filipina friends who introduced me to it this year and i LOVE it! Halo Halo literally means "mix mix" because of all the different variations and topping in the dessert, so that's what we call our group of friends now since we are all from different cultural backgrounds :P

[@DieTreppenwitz]

its supposed to be mixed. You guys should try checking out the indian dessert falooda, which is halo halo but with more milk instead of the bit of evaporated milk.

[@xx_mryjy]

I am browsing from your videos and I saw this. I'm Filipino and that Halo-halo version of yours looks Fantastic! maybe It's not the traditional halo-halo but hey it's still look amazing and delicious.

[@justinemarielumanas1686]

Im a fan of your channel.im a filipino, and i love seeing all your videos. And hoping to see more videos about filipino dishes. Love lotsss!!!

[@ChristinaRomualdo]

Try boiling the chickpeas with brown sugar syrup instead of granulated sugar! But loved that you guys tried out some of the more “traditional” ingredients like beans and ube ice cream and the macapuno (young coconut)

[@diethermoret3572]

The original halo-halo in the philippines always comes with a strip of sweetened jack fruit on top. Usual components that makes it are kidney beans, chic peas, sweetened coconut, nata de coco, kaong, corn kernels, and sweetened bananas 😊 you just put all this at the bottom of the cup, pack the cup with shaved ice then top it with flan and sweetened jack fruit 😊

[@misakiyoshikawa312]

When I was a kid, my mom ran a halo-halo business(most of the Filipinos here know what I'm talking about😂). I helped her shave the ice with one of those handheld stuff. I recommend that you use a much taller glass. As how we do it, all the ingredients(sago, jelly, bean, etc.) go in first, then the layer of shaved ice, top it with the ube jam, flan, and sweetened jackfruit, and lastly, pour the evaporated milk. I hope you guys try this out!

[@kshatriya76]

The original Filipino ube ice cream here in my beloved country is a lot more purple and tastes more like the purple yam. We don't go cheap with the ube jam. Halo-halo has to mixed before you eat it since halo-halo means mixed-mixed.

[@chrismeister15]

This SORTED version actually looks pretty close to our traditional halo halo. Even here in the Philippines, there are different varieties but one thing remains constant, you always mix or "halo" it before eating. Good job, guys. :)

[@cramdoodles]

I don't think i've ever seen chickpeas, Aiyu, or fruit jams in halo halo before (maybe it's a regional thing??)...but i definitely love putting macapuno beans and jackfruit in mine, along with the rest of the stuff you've thrown in there. Filipino flan is also firmer than most other flan recipes i've seen, so you gotta make sure you buy/make a flan that uses more condensed milk; no purin/pudding cups, else you risk breaking it too much in the ice once you've mixed it all together! also, yeah, halo halo doesn't refer to the "mix" of stuff you put in there, you really gotta dig in! There's a reason why we use large containers for these things LOL

[@darylbaltazar8947]

Your version is not bad, it's good. You did it closer to the traditional than the parlor you went to. (I like both takes, your's and the parlor's.) Traditional halo-halo has sago, kidney beans, coco jellies, some colorful gelatines, ube, leche flan then your ice. This is how streetfood/traditional halo-halo is. Traditional or not, halo-halo is eaten in ones preference and own ingredients. And oh, you are right about halo-halo being mix-mix, a mix of everything, next time you try it, try to mix the dessert before you eat it. It's messy fun and good. Thumbs up for you guys! Halo-halo sorted.