THERE'S no denying that if there's one dessert that Filipinos are mainly known for its the cold, sweet, creamy halo-halo.
Attracting all dessert lovers with its layers of colorful and tasteful ingredients, halo-halo has become a fan-favorite and a great way to beat the unbearable heat of the summer.
One halo-halo store in Cagayan de Oro City has caught the attention of several people for it does not only bring comfort to those who are suffering from the glaring heat but also because of the dessert's creaminess.
Tagging itself as the “creamiest halo-halo in town,” Coldzone, owned by 36-year-old April Hygeia Chun, is a dessert store located at the second floor of Ororama Supercenter Cogon which serves eight different kinds of halo-halo.
Established in March 2016, Coldzone was formerly known as “Frozen” and operated along Mortola Street, in front of Movie Dream.
Chun decided to change the name of her business in 2017 as it is similar to Disney’s popular animation “Frozen.”
For someone who is not so fond of halo-halo despite owning a business centered to it, Chun got the inspiration to open Coldzone due to her mother's fondness of the said dessert as Pagadian City, Zamboanga, where Chun’s family resided, is a place filled with several establishments selling halo-halo.
So what makes Coldzone the “creamiest halo-halo” in Cagayan de Oro?
Apart from its fresh fruits (mango, banana, buko and avocado), gulaman, leche flan, cheese and corn, it is their ube halaya, milky shaved ice, and their homemade ice cream makes it so creamy.
“Diba kasi yung traditional na halo-halo, hahaluin mo lang, ganun lang, watery na. Sabi ng mga customers, ‘ma'am parang walang ice to, parang ang dami-daming ice cream.’ Yan yung sinasabi nila,” Chun said.
(Most traditional halo-halo, you mix them and then it becomes watery. Customers would say that ‘ma’am, it seems there's no ice, and there are more ice cream in it.’)
Chun said their ube halaya and milky ice contribute a lot to the creaminess of their halo-halo.
With an affordable starting price of P55, you can purchase your all-time favorite halo-halo at Coldzone. You can order the classic, the Ube Classic Fave, their best sellers Avocado Fave and Durian Fave, or if you're feeling adventurous, their Uling Halo-Halo Ice Cream.
They also have the Unicorn Ice Cream Halo-Halo, the go to dessert for kids.
Coldzone, which is advocating for healthy lifestyle or diet, has their Grannies Fave, a halo-halo that uses low glycemic ice cream and stevia as sweetener.
“You can choose your level of sweetness. Kasi pwede namang ma-adjust kung gusto nilang (because they can adjust whether they like it) super sweet or 50 percent or 25 percent or no sweet at all. Kasi low calorie talaga kami (because we want it low-calorie),” Chun said, adding that with Coldzone, your cravings are satisfied without having to sacrifice your health.
At present, Coldzone has three stores, one in Ororama Supercenter Cogon, in Ororama Supercenter Carmen and in Pagadian City. Chun said she's planning on putting up another one in SM Cagayan de Oro Downtown Premier.
Coldzone also offers delivery service via Streetby or their own rider and also halo-halo catering service for events such as weddings, birthdays, debuts and others.