Philippine cuisine is little known to the world because of its relative accents and tastes with other countries’ cuisine particularly with its strong Spanish flavours. Unaware on what food and drinks in the Philippines taste like, most foreigners who have gone to Manila or few parts of the Philippines assume that the country’s gastronomic creativity is bland and ghastly.

In fact, Philippine food is as diverse as the Filipinos and their culture. It is a fusion of Earth’s blissful gourmet treat from Eastern, Middle Eastern and Western culinary and spices incorporated by the cuisine of the early Malay and Indonesian settlers, Arab and Chinese traders, Japanese, Spanish and American colonizers along with other Oriental and Occidental influences.

Spanish Accent

Some food critics claim that majority of Philippine dishes are of Spanish origin because for almost 350 years of Spanish regime, Filipinos were able to adapt and retain Spanish-inspired dishes which are commonly served in parties, fiestas and other special occasions. Thus names like relleno, morcon, embutido, callos, calderita, afritada, leche flan, and the likes are the highlights in the long table.

Chinese Culinary

Chinese influence is evident in noodle dishes and buns. Although, most of these dishes have Chinese spices and tastes, most of their names have been fused with Hispanic names and descriptive words to suit the Spaniards, then rulers of the country, which until now are known to most Filipinos.

Indonesian, Malay and Thai Palate

Filipinos, unlike their Southeast Asian counterparts, are not chilli-hot-pepper fanatic, although cuisine in the Bicol region is distinguished by their chilli and coconut milk, which are similar to Indonesian, Malay and Thai food.

Early settlers in the Philippines came from the neighbouring countries of Indonesia, Borneo and Malaysia that brought with them their indigenous way of cooking and spicing their food which are commonly served in the islands of Mindanao and Sulu archipelago. Muslim food retains the flavour of its Malay origin. Many Philippine desserts and sweet delicacies are greatly influenced by Indonesian and Malay settlers particularly those made from rice and coconut.