La Favorita Homemade Ice Cream: Heavenly Creaminess for your Sweet Endings!

In tropical countries like the Philippines, ice cream never goes out of season especially nowadays that sugar-free flavors are readily available and new variants are constantly being offered to cater to different ages and lifestyles.

In most cases, people buy commercial ice cream from the supermarket for it is more convenient and has a wide variety of flavors. But for me, the quest for new choices is always paramount which led me to discover a homegrown business that has been providing delicious old-fashioned homemade ice cream since 1956.

La Favorita Homemade Ice Cream was concocted by the late Doña Trinidad “Wowa Trining” Roa Reyes-Pineda of Cagayan de Oro City, originally serving leche freska (fresh milk) ice cream to her family and friends. Using a garapinera or manual ice cream grinder, Wowa Trining made ice cream in plain carabao milk (caramilk) and ube flavors.

Later on, one of Wowa Trining’s daughters continued her legacy by making the same creamy goodness and adding new flavors using only Del Monte fresh milk from Bukidnon, real fresh fruits in season and the finest ingredients from local sources.

Despite its long tradition of producing high quality homemade ice cream, it was only in 2010 that the family has decided to extend its market base and slowly promote the product to the wider and more business-oriented marketplace.

Fast forward to present, La Favorita Homemade Ice Cream has two Scooping Stations within the city and has regular exposures in food bazaars and special events like birthdays, weddings, corporate parties and school fairs.

For parties and special events, ice cream in Carts are available for scooping on site

I was lucky to try the available flavors of La Favorita Homemade Ice Cream and each one truly tastes delicious and super creamy. Their Avocado, Ube and Plain Caramilk flavors are highly recommended!

Here’s a rundown of their yummy flavors made from fresh cow’s milk:

Regular Flavors – Chocolate, Ube, Vanilla and Mocha

Special Flavors – Cheese, Cookies and Cream, Chocolate Chip and Caramel Swirl

Fresh Fruits – Avocado, Atis, Banana, Durian, Mango, Melon, Macapuno, Strawberry and Guyabano flavors

La Favorita Homemade Ice Cream also offers super creamy Premium flavors made from fresh carabao’s milk.

Premium Flavors are available in Caramilk Plain and Caramilk Halea de Ube

They also have sugar-free variants currently available in Mocha, Avocado and Strawberry flavors for those who need to keep a close watch on their diet. I’ve tried the sugar-free mocha and it tastes as yummy and creamy as the regular one!

What’s more, they have ice cream cookie sandwiches such as this droolific treat:

La Favorita Homemade Ice Cream - Cookie Ice Cream

Homemade fresh milk ice cream scooped between two chewy chocolate chip oatmeal cookies

Since production is dependent on the availability of Del Monte fresh milk and fruits in season, it’s best to check with the owners first if you’re planning to order seasonal flavors.

Ultimately, the best thing about La Favorita Homemade Ice Cream is the family tradition of producing and maintaining a home industry for 58 years, standing its ground against commercial giants and continuously winning loyal followers from the local market. It’s like getting a taste of the old-world in every scoop! Tasting and enjoying La Favorita Homemade Ice Cream is therefore an experience you shouldn’t miss when you’re in Cagayan de Oro City.

Enjoying a mini Ice Cream Party with Judee (far right), Wowa Trining’s granddaughter Minky Medalle and great-granddaughters Jamie and Maia