Polvoron-Making Workshop with MiCenter Lithuania – April 10, 2025
Merienda – Filipiniečių Užkandžiai/Filipino Snacks – A Taste of Filipino Flavors, coordinated with IOM Lithuania (International Organization for Migration) or MiCenter Lithuania and offered a a polvoron-making workshop on the 10th of April 2025, as one of the activities for the celebration of the Filipino Food Month 2025, aiming to promote Filipino food and flavors in Lithuania.
The workshop was held at the IOM Lithuania/MiCenter Lithuania Office at J. Jasinskio 16, Vilnius, Lithuania. It started at 18:30 and ended before 21:00.
Link to the event made by MiCenter here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1206809057708805
We planned to accommodate a maximum of 15 participants during the workshop, but a total of seventeen (17) participants arrived and participated, including three children. Some participants have already attended my pastillas-making workshop last year (April 24, 2024) which was also hosted by MiCenter Lithuania.
The first part of the workshop was a short introduction about myself and my business, and my goals on promoting Filipino food and flavors in Lithuania. This introduction phase also includes giving information about the Filipino Food Month, and its importance for the Filipino people. I have emphasized that this month is essential in the appreciation and preservation of Filipino food and flavors, not only in the Philippines but also in many countries around the world, where there are plenty of Filipinos. It was also a way for Filipinos to connect globally and showcase their unique and delicious dishes.
The second part of the workshop is the polvoron-making process itself. We started by trying the classic flavor of polvoron to give the participants an idea of how it tastes without any additional add-ins or flavors. I have also given the participants some polvoron with flavors, including jackfruit, chocolate, and matcha, which gave them the idea how which flavors they can choose. The add-ins I brought included cocoa powder, matcha powder, jackfruit essence, crushed dried jackfruit, crushed peanuts, dessicated coconut, ube essence and pandan essence. We made the polvoron together by combining all the ingredients and flavoring as well. The essences used were from About Flavors, a company based in the Netherlands, owned and established by Filipino entrepreneurs. I have also introduced them to the taste of ube, pandan and jackfruit by bringing some products such as homemade lengua de gato cookies with ube and pandan flavors, and dried jackfruit from the supermarket.
I showed them how to use the polvoron molders, which I got directly from the Philippines, and they were really excited to use them probably because they have not seen such a device before. They made around 8-9 pieces of polvoron per person, and once they were done, we chilled them in the fridge. While the polvorons are chilling, we celebrated my 41st birthday. I invited five (5) volunteers to play the “polvoron game” and say a Filipino tongue twister while eating the polvoron. All five participants got special prizes from me – baked vegan banana bread with jackfruit, some Filipino chocolates and the Filipino handmade bag from the Department of Tourism as well (pieces left from last year’s events).
To celebrate my birthday, I cooked for the participants spaghetti with Filipino sweet sauce and hotdogs and my all-time favorite cake, the Sansrival. I mentioned some historical facts and the humble beginnings of the Filipino spaghetti, banana ketchup and the Sansrival, and how it became great additions to many Filipino gatherings and special occasions.
After the sumptuous meal, we continued with the workshop and wrapped the already firm polvoron. I gave the participants two options in wrapping their treats – using the traditional cellophane or using ready-made pouches. Most participants tried to wrap their polvoron traditionally, and some wrapped their creations using the ready-made pouches. Before the end of the workshop, the participants were invited to take home some brochures and map of the Philippines provided by the Philippine Department of Tourism based in Frankfurt, Germany, through the help and guidance from the Philippine Embassy Warsaw, Poland. I have also included some pens with my website written on it to help endorse my small business. Overall, the participants had a great time and expressed their appreciation for Filipino flavors and ingredients. Some of them even expressed their gratitude by giving some presents and their unwavering support for my projects and events. The evening was unforgettable and truly memorable – a great way to celebrate any birthday this year!
