Sunday, July 27, 2008
CHOCNUT, A PINOY DELIGHT
A true Manileño wouldn't be one without a fondness for one of these -- a ChocNut!
I remember my first visit to Manila after a long absence -- while the kids relished the Godiva Truffles, the honey and almond nougat Toblerone bars, and those candy-coated M&Ms that I had brought them -- I was nagging my sister Inday to get me some peanut milk chocolate ChocNuts.
And when I finally got my hands on a 24-piece pack as in the above photo, it took me no time to gobble it all up -- and all by myself, mind you. I must've looked like a starved escaped felon to those who watched me in utter disbelief. But I didn't care.
Now, for those traveling abroad, one of the wonderful pasalubong ideas I would recommend is ChocNut. Trust me, your old friends will love you for it even if you overstayed!
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Labels: Featured food
posted by Señor Enrique at 9:20 AM
32 Comments:
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Unknown said... Yummy yummy! :D
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said... I never heard of ChocNut when I was still living in Manila. Probably they did not have it then. Now that you blogged about it, I can't wait to get a hold of one.
Do you know if the local Pinoy groceries or stores here carry them? If not, I'll have to ask a relative or friend visiting from Pinas to get me one.-
reyd said...
Choc-Nut, My favorite since I was a kid. I used to spend part of my baon during elementary days for a piece or two of these treats. Patago pa dahil ayaw ng tatay ko ng kung ano ano ang kinakain dahil nga ingatan ang ipen daw. I remember may coupon pa sa loob ng Choc-Nut and you can win instant cash or a free bar and the size of the bar is about the size of a regular thumb.
Then my father seems to like it also when he started to quit smoking. Kahon-kahon na ang binibili niya from Sto. Cristo in Divisoria sa dealer ng mga candies of his paisanos.
Now, kasing laki na lang ng pinkie ko or mas maliit pa. :D
But still masarap pa rin.
Tutoo yan, kahit na may tinda na dito sa US ng Choc-nut sa Asian stores, balikbayans always bring that treat with other pasalubongs.
And my brother one time brought a lot of those and was told by the food inpector that those Choc-nuts are good but acted weird when he could not figure out what the heck are those round brown shell with red tape and strung on some bamboo sticks. Hahahha (otherwise known as "Sundot Kulangot" from Baguio City).-
Señor Enrique said...
Indeed, Mauisalang ... hehehe!
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Señor Enrique said...
Some Pinoy stores might carry them bertN, but I didn't come across from any in New York nor those in the nearby New Jersey cities.
Better ask a relative to get you a "box." Yes, a box of this 24-piece package, and share them with some Pinoy friends of yours over there. Then watch their faces glow with great delight :)-
Señor Enrique said...
Hi Reyd,
From as far back as I can remember, it used to be sold for 25 centavos and the size of which was 1" x 1" and about four or five inches in length. This 24-piece pack is about 26 pesos.
Where oh where can I find those "Sundot Kulangot?" I am yet to find them in Divisoria. Perhaps, I should take a trip to Baguio, eh? Hehehe!-
said...
I'm in Manila on my vacation and I just ate one of these this morning. I don't remember eating this as a kid. Maybe they didn't have it then?
Heidi-
Señor Enrique said...
Hello Heidi ... and welcome home!
I bet you're having a wonderful time in Manila :)
They had ChocNut way back when I was a kid. Perhaps, it just wasn't as widely distributed back then?
Please don't forget to buy some to bring back home!-
nutart said...
Hey! naabutan ko pa na 10 centavos per chocnut! Old ko na pala! :-)
Since I had introduced chocnut to my sweet-tooth German husband, we always have chocnut in our chiller and cooler box of whatever we want to store. Now, we are down to two since we forgot to add it in our grocery list. My hubby doesn't like the idea that we wouldn't have any chocnut dessert tonight.
yes, that's also our pasalubong to his parents when we go visit...a favorite along with dried mangoes.-
said...
True, Senor. This is also my favorite when I was a kid and until now. In fact, I bought a bunch of it along with "Boy Bawang" as pasalubong.
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EM said...
Love this chocnut! I can find them in most Asian stores here too. Even my son loves this that i have to hide it from him because once he's seen them he can't help not to gobble them all up. Same with flatops.
The thing is...they are not just the taste at times...they also carry the ingredient of fond memories of a once young and careless life.-
Panaderos said...
I heard somebody say that ChocNut has been around since the 1950s. Someone ought to come up with a book on these classic Filipino snacks.
Btw, I'm a Certified ChocNut Addict. Hehehe I'm glad to know that no rehab centers are currently available to fix my addiction. :D-
said...
I don't remember seeing chocnut when I was growing up in Manila. But I do remember saving part of my baon of 50 cents a week to buy "Van Houten" chocolate candy. And in high school, instead of riding a jeep from Makata/Batangas St. to Arellano High School, I walked so I can buy myself "Serges Chocolate Bar" every now and then. Love those bygone days.
Clett-
said...
Something to look forward to when I return to home in November!
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Señor Enrique said...
Ten centavos for a ChocNut, Bernadette? I wonder if they had already trimmed its size by then. You see, as I've mentioned, the ChocNut I used to buy back then costs 25 centavos and the size of which was 1" x 1" and about four or five inches in length.
It was rather costly conidering a bottle of Cosmos orange or sarsaparilla with one piece of hopiang hapon cost 25 centavos, too.
Nevertheless, sarap kasi ng ChocNut! Even your mom-in-law loves them, huh? Cool!-
Señor Enrique said...
Compared to imported chocolates, Mandaragat, iba talaga ang ChocNut. Hindi masyadong matamis katulad ny Reese's peanut butter cups, di ba? Kaya hindi nakakasawa.
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Señor Enrique said...
That is true, EM, it brings back the fond memories of days gone by. I used to buy a bar of it every Saturday morning when I was a kid because during my elementary years, my allowance was only ten centavos a day but I got more on Saturdays :)
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Señor Enrique said...
No, Panaderos ... no rehabs for such affliction. Actually, even the younger kids in our clan are very much into ChocNut as well ... hehehe.
You might be right about ChocNut being around since the 50s, it probably was that widely distributed back then.-
Señor Enrique said...
Hmmmm ... if your baon is 50 centavos a week, Clett, I've a feeling we might have grown up in the same era.
Anyway, if you lived in Makata/Batangas, I lived in Misericordia between Batangas and Tayabas, then you must remember the sari-sari store at the very corner of Batanagas and Misericordia. One of the owners daughters, Leticia, was a classmate of mine at Bonifacio Elementary School. She then went on to attend Arellano High School, while I at MIT.
I do remember Serges Chocolate Bar, too!
How about Marie biscuits?
Hay naku, so much childhood merienda foodstuffs, no?-
Señor Enrique said...
Better grab a box of it, Anonymous ... hehehe!
November ain't too far off. Enjoy your balikbayan vacation!-
said...
Yummy!! This is tops on my list. I always have a pack in my ref at all times. I used to be the only one devouring them but now I have to fight over them with my kids. They love it too :D
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said...
Hola Señor,
We shouldn't forget also the "Serg's Bar and "Goya" Chocolates. Unfortunately, the Serg's chocolate factory in Cainta has already been foreclosed by a bank. (I'm not sure if it's caused by bankruptcy.)
There may be expensive Belgian and Swiss Chocolates but nothing would really beat our own ChocNut. :)-
said...
Before I packed bag full of local goodies for my sister who is currently based in CA, I thought of buying Chocnut. But on the grocery while buying some stuff, I forgot about it. When I saw your entry this morning, I reminded my other sister to get a pack of Chocnut for our sister.
Chocnut is a national treasure. Presyo lang ang nag-iba, but the quality remains the same.-
Señor Enrique said...
Yes, El Cineaste, we shouldn't forget about those Serg's and Goya's, either. But nonetheless, I have distinct childhood memories of ChocNuts ... hehehe. I love 'em!
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Señor Enrique said...
Ay, good thing you remembered about ChocNuts, Juleste! Your sister in California and her friends will surely appreciate receiving ChocNuts from you!
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Señor Enrique said...
That's right, Cookie ... even our younger generation are loving the ChocNuts!
Sana hindi mawala ito, no?-
grumpyurbanslacker said...
i hate to be the contrarian here, but i've never liked ChocNut :D
Mas gusto ko Flat Tops and Curly Tops, which are also locally-made.
i can finish off a pack in one sitting!!-
Señor Enrique said...
That's quite all right, GUS. Many loved Flat Tops and Curly Tops as well like you do. But are those two still available? I will try to look for them.
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Anton said...
Hmmm...I know the owners..I have put them in ice cream and they taste yummy also....
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Anton said...
Serg's and Goya has closed down due to hard times in the late 80s....they couldn't compete with the imported chocolates anymore...
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Señor Enrique said...
ChocNuts in ice cream? Hmmm ... I might just try that next time, Anton!
I saw some Curly Tops in Ever Gotesco Supermarket the other day!-
armovil said...
Senor, mabuhay! nagdala ako niyan dito pinamigay ko sa naging kakilala ko. Nagustuhan nila ang sariling atin.
