Calamay from Bohol
My recent trip to Bohol was interesting in that despite all of 
the development that included new roads, fancy malls and dozens of hotels on Panglao’s beaches, the islands still had that proud provincial feel that existed decades ago. Surrounding modest wooden homes were carefully tended gardens that bespoke a pride of place that is getting rarer and rarer these days. It was also nice to see that many of the native delicacies such as broas (ladyfingers) and other baked goods still thriving. And on departure, a line of at least a dozen vendors at the pier were selling another throwback to my early 1970’s visits to the island – calamay! Calamay is a sweet concoction of ground sticky rice, sugar, coconut milk, vanilla and some peanuts (optional). It is sold in smooth coconut shells that are sealed shut by a characteristic band of red tape.
As kids we fondly referred to calamay as kulangot or snot because 
it had a similar consistency but other than that unflattering comparison it was actually rather delicious. I bought a few calamay on my most recent trip (3 pieces for PHP100 and that was the tourist price) to see if it still tasted as good as I remembered. Opened on a hot day, it was more sticky than I recalled and it took some effort to spoon some out to taste. It still tasted good but my tastebuds have evolved away from the ultra sweet versions. And the twist with peanuts is something relatively knew, we always had “pure” calamay as kids. If it is refrigerated for a few days, you can slice off a sliver and eat it like you would cheese… I have never seen the stuff made but I understand the ground rice flour is added to near boiling coconut milk and sugar and stirred until it reaches the desired consistency. Vanilla is added to enhance the flavor and chopped peanuts if that grabs you.
Yummy calamay! Marketman, you sure know how to pick on the yummiest goodies! Calamay is another food which really reminds me of my childhood in Cagayan de Oro. “Imported” from Bohol,it is a treat which I never forgot along with binaki, bulanghoy and maruya! Thanks for the reminders Marketman, I’ll make sure my nephews and nieces get to have a taste of these treats!
May 17th, 2005Ahh, One of my more memorable childhood pasalubong foods
(courtesy of my boholano yaya)…’kulangot’ also came in
different sizes, I think the one in the pic is mid-sized,
Ive seen kulangot as big as cantaloupes and as small as
siniguelas (sold as a ’set’ held inside bamboo sticks and coconut leaf (?) twine.
Oh, and the I think they also sell these in Baguio.
May 17th, 2005I think this is also the same as the one’s sold in Baguio, but with a different consistency. This was a really yummy treat during my younger days and we would never leave Baguio with out buyung them.
May 17th, 2005calamay masarap yan
August 8th, 2006more than words, masarap yan!
September 18th, 2006the ones in Baguio are really really small, the size of calamansi. Are those baby coconut shells?
January 8th, 2007The ones sold in Baguio is in a long slim tube that comes with a stick to s[poon the contents out. We call it “sundot-kulangot”. Similar to kalamay in taste. In Negros, they call this “Kalamay-hati”, maybe because of that red tape which sealed the coco shell, which was cut into halves. I dunno, am just guessing…. I’m not really fond of it though but I’ve tasted if, out of curiosity, and I like the sweetness.
August 2nd, 2007hi guyz, pede ko ask??
December 3rd, 2007I want to ask about the Nutritional Facts of Calamay for my thesis, if its okay.Anyways, I agree with all of you Calamay truly is masarap. My father always bring Calamay everytime he visits Bohol, especially the one inside the ‘bagol’. Thanks for the time guyz. If anyone has the Nutritional Facts of the calamay just send it to me at kurtzkmg@yahoo.com, tanx guyz I really, really appreciate it. (My teacher gives me a headache.)
could i have the recipe for the popular calamay of bohol? i really need it for my girlfriend’s thesis if you do have one kindly send it to my yahoomail ryan_ilogon@yahoo.com thank you ciao!
February 20th, 2008kalamay in BOHOL is very dilecious
June 18th, 2008Labihang lami-a ang calamay labina ug ibutang sa pan ug lanlanon lami gihapon number 1 ang calamay para nako.
August 1st, 2008can You please post the scientific name of caLamay?
August 12th, 2008i aM hoping that yOu would anSwer me aS soon as possible because we will use that name in our reSearch…..thanK u
August 12th, 2008ding, calamay is a cooked delicacy. As far as I know, it has NO scientific name and any teacher or professor who tells you that it does have scientific name should go back to school. :)
August 12th, 2008lami jud kaajo ang calamay…wa jamoy maka lupig!
August 30th, 2008