highlands delight

We often associate sagada as the best mountain biking destination in the Philippines. Much has been said about the annual 43 epic rides to the so called B.C. type of trails of the north. But we always forget to mention something, more than just the ride. It’s the other side of sagada we often overlooked, a delightful trip that left a weird acidic taste on our mouth. That kept me hanging since last October. Of course I’m talking about yogurt .I'm not really a fan, until one afternoon, after a morning ride that I found myself musing fondly over a generous serving of this bacteria infused delight. Yogurt house had me before I finished my first bowl and was hooked ever since. There’s something about sagada’s yogurt that’s unique. It’s the simplest yogurt I ever tasted yet it's the best I ever had. Some might say, to travel long hours of rugged dirt roads for a bowl of yogurt is insane, But how was I supposed to get my yogurt fix? I’ve searched for the best yogurt place in manila and there was none. All was frozen yogurt on stalls along the malls which is really ice cream in another form. There are some who came close to yogurt house but none of the licking of the bowl that I enjoy so much in sagada. What does separate sagada’s yogurt from the rest? The answer probably lies on the method on how it's made. For one thing the homemade strawberry jam that the region is known for is enough reason to salivate. Add in hefty slices of banana and homemade granola for a complete meal. And of course the luscious thick, creamy rich locally cultured yogurt which is a blend of local and foreign flavors makes it the best there is. The process for making these ingredients takes a lot of time and effort to give the food its soul. Like what grandmother use to say “it is enjoyable to eat something delicious, but the greatest joy is the time spent waiting for it.”

One thing is certain; you won’t get the same quality of yogurt elsewhere in the country, there’s something about the elevation that makes this yogurt more enjoyable. The highland’s natural cool breeze and a bowl of yogurt after a long ride you share with your friends in the midst of the mountain are worth the travel.