Moron (food)

Moron
The chocolate moron bundled and individual
Alternative names Muron, chococlate moron
Type Rice cake
Course Dessert
Place of origin Philippines
Region or state Eastern Visayas
Main ingredients Glutinous rice, coconut milk, sugar, chocolate
Similar dishes Suman

In Filipino cuisine, moron (the stress is pronounced on the last syllable[1]) or muron[2] is a rice cake similar to suman.[3] It is a native delicacy in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines particularly at the city of Tacloban in the province of Leyte[1] and at the province of Eastern Samar.[4][5] Although, other parts of the Philippines have versions of it.[6] Specifically, it was adopted as one of the locally produced products in Mambajao, Camiguin.[7][8]

Since it is a variety of suman, it is cooked with glutinous rice, coconut milk and sugar.[9] The main difference is that moron is gyrated with chocolate tablea (tablets) or mixed with cocoa powder while a regular suman is not.[5][3][1] It also has a hint of vanilla and usually partnered with coffee or sikwate (a native chocolate drink).[1] With chocolate as its distinct ingredient, it is also called chocolate moron.[1]

Preparation

The common ingredients of moron consist of glutinous rice (locally known as malagkit), ordinary rice, coconut milk, sugar, chocolate or cocoa powder and melted butter.[1][4] In preparation for cooking the malagkit and the ordinary rice, both rice types must be soaked together overnight and then ground on the following day.[1][4] The ground rice is then soaked in coconut milk until it is soft.[1] After which, sugar and chocolate powder are added.[1] The mixture is cooked over low fire while repeatedly stirring it.[1][4] When the consistency is thick, the cooked mixture is set aside for it to cool.[1]

After cooking the mixture, the banana leaves can be prepared and cut that shall serve as wrappers for the mixture.[1] It is suggested to have two tablespoon of mixture in each of the cut banana leaf.[1][4] Every individual pieces are brushed with butter.[1] After wrapping a piece, it is sealed with a string.[1] Lastly, the wrapped pieces are cooked through steaming in about half an hour.[1][4] After the moron is cooled, it can now be served.[1]

Consumption

Moron is usually sold in bundles of four pieces that are individually wrapped in a banana leaf.[1][2] Tourists from Leyte usually buy moron as a pasalubong or gift for their relatives and friends.[1] In the places where moron originated, it is usually served at festivals, birthday parties, and funeral wakes.[2] Visitors from those parties usually takes home some of the moron.[2] The food is also a medium of exchange for goodwill in Tacloban and the nearby municipalities of Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa, Dulag, Mayorga and Abuyog.[2]

Philippine government agencies usually promote and support locally produced goods such as the moron.[10][11][7] The Department of Science and Technology of the Philippines advocated the longer shelf life of food products including the moron to help producers of those kind of food products[10] while the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines conducted trade fairs to develop and promote products, which included the moron.[11] The Department of Labor and Employment of the Philippines meanwhile made a project in Mambujao, Camiguin for the production of moron.[7][8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Dizon, Angeli Korina M. (January 6, 2017). "Chocolate Moron". The Freeman. Retrieved November 28, 2017 – via The Philippine Star.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Pastrano, Mozart (February 27, 2014). "Tacloban's 'moron' lives on". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  3. 1 2 De Guzman, Nicai (June 15, 2017). "A Comprehensive Crash Course to Kakanin". Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Caspe, Mel (December 18, 2016). "'Moron' draws more tourists to Leyte, E. Samar". Manila Standard. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  5. 1 2 Uy, Amy A. (September 1, 2013). "Rice cakes, roscas, and more eats at the Samar Food Fest". GMA News Online. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Suman de Moron | Viva Travel Action". vivata.com.au. July 18, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 "Department of Labor and Employment - Ro Polo Updates". www.dole.gov.ph. Department of Labor and Employment of the Philippines. July 2, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Mindanao Daily News – DOLE-X assisted suman moron: Camigueños trending 'kakanin'". www.mindanaodailynews.com. March 5, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  9. ↑ Fernandez, Rudy A. (June 22, 2009). "Tourist spots known for delicacies, too". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  10. 1 2 "DOST pushes longer shelf life for Leyte's food products". ptvnews.ph. November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  11. 1 2 "DTI-Eastern Visayas to conduct Bahandi Regional Trade Fair 2015". Sun.Star. August 28, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
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