DAVAO City is indeed blessed with nature’s bounty.
Other than the beautiful tourist destinations the city can offer, its fruits, among many other reasons, lure tourists, whether domestic or foreign, to come.
And when they do, bringing home some of these Davao’s finest fruits and delicacies back to their respective places is a must.
Girlie Cabadsan of Cebu City fancies the durian fruit so much, may it be fresh or frozen.
“I like durian in Davao because there’s nothing like it. It tastes like ice cream when chilled. I just bought one last Saturday because they say it’s from Davao,” she told SunStar Davao.
However, more than the taste, she continued, “It reminds me of my Dad in my childhood days whenever he reprimands me and thought he hurt me bad his way of pacifying my pain was a dose of a creamy taste durian and yes, pain no more, back to a bubbly me. That’s my durian story.”
Cecille Digamon Literal, born in Oroquieta City but has been living with her husband Vincent and son Lorenzo in Indiana, USA, said being a durian fruit lover also made her a great fan of durian pies.
She said, “I love the pies kay grabe man ko mukaon og (I really eat a lot of) durian fruit. The last time was when I was there in Davao in 2017. Been awhile! My fave variety is Bangkok and Monthong ba yun? Love the native as well. I buy here sa Asian market pag nag crave ako frozen nga lang hehe.”
Susan Lastrado, who resides in Cavite, said they would often bring home five to 10 kilos of pomelo and mangosteen each. The last time they were in Davao was in October 2019.
“It’s our favorite fruits that only Davao can produce with such taste and juiciness,” Lastrado said.
Meanwhile, Rozele Navia Maramara of Quezon City said, “I always buy suha, mangosteen and lanzones - the best ang Davao variety for me, walang kapantay sa quality.”
The last time she was in Davao October 2019, she bought eight kilos of pomelos, five kilos of mangosteen, two kilos of lanzones and two kilos of raw peanuts. Davao peanuts, according to her, was the best she ever tasted.
She added, “I would have bought more if my baggage limit allowed it!”
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) staff Alona Doromal Quintos, who was in the city last month, said pomelos, lanzones, mangosteen and marang are her favorite Davao fruits. “Madalas kong iuwi ay ang pomelo and lanzones. Hindi kumpleto Davao trip ko if wala akong uwi na pomelos and lanzones. About 10 to 20 kilos ang iniuwi ko last byahe ko.”
Aside from the fruits, other Davao visitors would also bring home frozen tuna panga and belly, since it is cheaper here than anywhere in the Visayas or Luzon.
Durian candies, pastillas and yema are also big hits. Of course, world class Malagos chocolates are fast becoming in demand, too.