Iced Coffee (with Jelly)
Iced coffee with jelly is a beverage that combines chilled coffee and coffee jelly. It is popular mainly in East Asia and Southeast Asia, with a variety of regional adaptations. At Cabsat Cafe in Baguio City, Philippines, it is served in a unique style reflecting the local climate and cultural background. Characterized by its refreshing quality as a drink and its dessert-like texture, it is enjoyed by a wide range of people along with the spread of café culture.
- Taste Rating
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- Price
- ? Philippine Peso
- Meal Date
- 12/29/2022
- Food Travel Log
- Discovered a Ghibli-inspired café, Cabsat Cafe, in Baguio! Mesmerized by numerous Ghibli characters drawn on the walls, I ordered iced coffee. It was very sweet, with nice jelly at the bottom. By the way, Cabsat means sibling in Ilocano. A name fitting for family-loving Filipinos. MAP
AI Gourmet Analysis
Overview
Iced coffee with jelly is a dessert drink that combines chilled coffee with coffee jelly. It is especially popular in East Asia and Southeast Asia, where many local variations exist. At "Cabsat Cafe" in Baguio City, Philippines, this style of iced coffee with added jelly is served. In Baguio, where café culture has thrived, a variety of arranged coffees and dessert-like beverages are popular, influenced by the region's cool climate and its character as a tourist destination.
Evolution and Regional Spread of Iced Coffee
The history of iced coffee itself dates back to the late 19th-century Europe and America, but under the influence of café culture in Japan and Southeast Asia, a trend emerged to add various ingredients such as jelly, tapioca, and custard pudding. Coffee jelly was first created in Japan in the 1950s, but across Asia, it has been adapted into drinks enjoyed for their unique "texture." In the Philippines, a variety of dessert beverages have evolved, and layered sweets culture, as seen in milk tea (bubble tea) and "Halo-halo," has also been fused with coffee.
Cabsat Cafe and Local Culture
Cabsat Cafe, where this item is offered, features a name that means "brother" in Ilocano, symbolizing family and brotherly love as part of Baguio City's multicultural background. Baguio is also home to many unique cafés due to its distinctive climate and role as a tourist destination. Inside the shop, wall paintings reminiscent of Studio Ghibli anime can be seen, reflecting the local acceptance of "pop culture."
Global Trends in Jelly Drinks
Iced coffee with jelly is enjoyed not only in the Philippines, but also in China, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Vietnam. In the Philippines, jelly is often used in the form of "grass jelly" or "sago" (tapioca pearls). While coffee jelly originated in Japan, developing it into a beverage form is a distinctive trend of Southeast Asia. Thanks to the café boom, it has become a popular menu item among young people and tourists, enjoyed throughout the year.
Ingredients and Features
| Main Ingredients | Features |
|---|---|
| Iced Coffee | Made with dark roasted beans. Chilled and served with ice. |
| Coffee Jelly | Coffee-flavored jelly made with agar or gelatin. Characterized by its texture and slight bitterness. |
| Sweetened Condensed Milk or Milk | Provides rich sweetness, creaminess, and smoothness. |
| Ice | Served in a quantity sufficient to keep the drink cold without excessive dilution. |
Social Background and Nutritional Value
Iced coffee with jelly is enjoyed as a drink that provides both energy from sweetness and caffeine intake, especially popular as a refreshing beverage during hot weather or for breaks while sightseeing. In terms of nutrition, it tends to be high in sugar, but the jelly also helps to create a sense of fullness and satisfy dessert cravings. In a highland city like Baguio, the fusion of mild sweetness and cold texture is appreciated by both locals and tourists.
Summary
Iced coffee with jelly is a modern dessert drink that brings together the subtle bitterness of coffee, the smooth texture of jelly, and their combined sweetness, evolving uniquely across Asia. With the addition of local flavors in places such as Baguio's Cabsat Cafe, it provides not only a beverage but also a sense of "culture" and "connection."