Revisiting the Iconic Haw Haw Candy Ice Cream of the 90s Philippines Nostalgia

Revisiting the Classic Haw Haw Candy from the 90s

The haw haw candy was an iconic Filipino ice candy that dominated the 1990s. With its bright colors, fruit flavors, and tantalizing icy exterior housing chewy strands inside, it's no wonder why kids and adults alike fell in love with this treat. As the famous jingle goes, "Haw haw ang sarap, kahit malamig na malamig!" Let's take a nostalgic trip back to explore the origins and cultural impact of haw haw candy.

The Humble Beginnings of Haw Haw Candy

In the late 1980s, Nanay Pilang from Pampanga started experimenting with making ice candy using simple household ingredients. She eventually created a unique frozen candy with a thick syrup center that resembled the strands of the popular local delicacy sapin-sapin. When people bit into the crisp icy covering, they would exclaim "Haw haw!" in delighted surprise at the soft chewy strands inside.

The name haw haw candy was born from this reaction. Nanay Pilang began selling her novel creation by the roadside. News of this tasty new ice candy spread, and soon the treat became a favorite across Pampanga. By the 1990s, larger candy manufacturers started mass producing haw haw candy. Its popularity skyrocketed across the Philippines as the ice candy treat became a standard presence in neighborhood stores and pushcarts nationwide.

The Haw Haw Candy Craze

Part of the appeal was that haw haw candy flavors reflected popular local fruits and desserts. Classic takes included the creamy milk flavor, fruity melon and pineapple, coconut, chocolate, vibrant orange, and halo-halo inspired rainbow. The ice candy's inviting colors and bursts of flavor made it a favorite among children and kids-at-heart.

Biting into the frozen exterior to reach the sweet-salty syrup threads inside also made for an exciting eating experience. The textural contrast between icy shell and chewy center kept Filipinos hooked and longing for more. Haw haw candy became a quintessential snack and pasalubong treat to buy from the neighborhood candy or ice cream vendor.

Haw Haw Candy Today

While mass production of haw haw candy has dwindled over the decades, Nanay Pilang's iconic creation remains beloved to this day. The treat still makes appearances in traditional Filipino ice candy shops and mobile carts. It's also often spotted at school fairs, fiesta stalls, and public markets across the country.

Moreover, there is a sense of nostalgia and cultural significance attached to haw haw candy. It's a edible taste of the carefree 1990s era. Videos about this ice candy classic still tend to go viral online whenever they show up. Posts tagged #hawhawcandy capture Filipinos young and old enjoying this blast-from-the-past treat.

Resurgence of Haw Haw Candy in Pop Culture

Indeed, the haw haw candy has been making a comeback in recent years, thanks to 90's kids feeling sentimental and younger generations discovering this old-school Pinoy ice candy. Food vloggers are recreating DIY versions to pay homage, while some brands have brought back properly packaged mass market versions for convenience.

Nanay Pilang's signature ice candy has also been getting shoutouts from local celebrities. Some have posted about childhood memories munching on haw haw candy as an after school or weekend treat. When ties with 1990s culture get featured in films or TV shows, you can even spot haw haw candy product placements included in key scenes!

Haw Haw Candy-Inspired Treats

Modern twists on the classic Filipino ice candy are also emerging to appeal to changing consumer tastes. Some homemade takes add striking new colors, creamier flavors, or alcoholic spirits for an adult remix. Trendy gelato shops offer haw haw candy inspired soft serve waves, while specialty cafes turn Nanay Pilang's creation into Instagrammable drinks.

Cottage industries put local fruit twists on haw haw candy ice pops for added nutrition. You can even find haw haw candy incorporated into cakes, pastries, and other dessert items. It seems that the iconic ice candy that sparked joy for 1990s kids still has some new tricks up its sleeve decades later.

The Timeless Appeal of Haw Haw Candy

What makes haw haw candy such a beloved and enduring Filipino food icon after all these years? There is certainly nostalgic value and cultural significance attached to Nanay Pilang's signature soft centered ice candy creation. Just one bite whisks people back to carefree 1990s childhood days.

Beyond sentimental reasons, the sensory experience and thrill of discovery in enjoying haw haw candy keeps this old school treat relevant. The icy shell housing chewy syrup center dynamic endures as a winning combination. Sweet fruity flavors layered over slightly salty strands remain a profile that appeals to local Pinoy palates too.

So when a familiar glass tub filled with brightly hued candy chunks emerges from a mobile ice cream cart, expect faces both young and old to break out into smiles. Haw haw ang sarap, indeed!

FAQs

What are the classic haw haw candy flavors?

The most popular classic haw haw candy flavors include creamy milk, fruity flavors like melon, pineapple, orange, rainbow inspired by halo-halo, coconut, chocolate, and more.

Where can I buy haw haw candy today?

You can still find haw haw candy being sold in some traditional Filipino ice candy shops, as well as in mobile ice cream carts around the country. It also makes appearances at school fairs, fiesta food stalls, and public markets.

Who invented the original haw haw candy?

The very first haw haw candy is credited to Nanay Pilang from Pampanga in the late 1980s. She experimented by making ice candy with a chewy sapin-sapin like syrup center that became known as haw haw candy.

Why is haw haw candy so popular?

Haw haw candy features a winning contrast of icy exterior and sweet-salty chewy strands inside. The thrill of discovery in biting through the shell plus nostalgic 1990s childhood memories contribute to its enduring popularity.