Surigao Norte State U introduces Mansanitas ice cream
By Mariesh F. CeledeΓ±a
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – The Surigao del Norte
State University (SNSU), through its food innovation center, showcased its
Mansanitas ice cream in the recent provincial caravan of the Regional
Development Plan 2023-2028 in Surigao City.
The Mansanitas ice cream got
its first recognition through a competition on food innovation spearheaded
by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and used the prize money to
further fund the necessary resources to develop the faculty project. With the
equipment and machines provided by the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) through the food innovation center (FIC) in Surigao del
Norte State University (SNSU), the Mansanitas ice cream started its fruition.
Dr. Cheyserr Chua Lelis,
team leader of the said faculty project found potential in Mansanitas with the
goal to use the underutilized fruit as primary ingredient in their ice cream
product.
“We were inspired to create
Mansanitas as we were looking for an ingredient that is underutilized here in
Caraga region either fruit or vegetable. We decided to use Mansanitas because
of its innate sweet taste and abundance in the province,” said Lelis.
She also shared that the Mansanitas ice cream is nutritious and healthy as it does not have sugar. The team instead uses Stevia, a sugar substitute and is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
"One of the goals of
this Mansanitas Ice Cream is that we want people with type 2 diabetes to
also enjoy dessert." She added.
Accordingly, the project
team is now in the process of testing the product to ensure that it will have
the proper nutritional label, especially that the product is not commercially
made but rather artisanal.
“We process the fruits
completely by hand which is by pinching them. This process preserves the natural
sweetness and unique taste of Mansanitas,” the group disclosed.
“The Mansanitas ice cream is
delicious. You can really taste and even see bits of the fruits. It has the
right amount of sweetness and creaminess,” expressed Ronnie Madanguit who
tasted the product.
The Mansanitas tree is known
for its versatility as it grows fast and quick anywhere even in poor
growing conditions. It bears bountiful small fruits that turn red when ripened
and have a juicy taste with lots of seeds inside.
With the aid of science and technology, Mansanitas ice cream nurtures its
potential inclusion in the Filipino sweet dish. (MFC/PIA-Caraga)
