History of Otap: Cebu’s Favorite Puff Pastry Cookie

What is the meaning of otap? 

Otap is a famous Cebuano delicacy, a puff pastry that is often compared to a palmier, notable for its flaky texture and rich sweetness. 

Unlike the palmier, the otap is flat, crispy, and irresistibly sweet because of the generous sprinkling of sugar. 

Otap is also considered a famous Cebu dessert, other than a beloved snack and souvenir. It is sold at malls, specialty souvenir stores, and some of the city’s biggest public markets. 

An Instagram post from London-based Filipino food caterer Adobros traced its origins back to the American colonial period of 1898 to 1946, when commercial baking in the Philippines became more rampant. (2023) 

Its origins in Cebu, however, are attributed to a business that was established before World War II. 

One of the best places to get otap is none other than Shamrock Bakery, which is referred to as the “Home for Cebu’s Finest Otap”.

O’TAP OF THE MORNING TO YA!

Shamrock Bakery started as a partnership between an Irish businessman and Kapampangan baker Honoria Paras. They took the name and branding from the four-leaf clover associated with Ireland. 

Their official website claims they are a “one-stop shop” for local and foreign travelers, as they are known to offer some of the best Filipino delicacies and baked products. 

It first opened at the Compania Maritima Building, one of the oldest structures in Cebu City, located near Cebu South Road Properties. Unfortunately, the building was bombed during World War II, forcing a relocation. 

In 1945, a year before the country’s independence, Paras continued the business despite the Irishman fleeing the country. It was then that she opened her own bakery along Sikatuna Street, where she perfected the original Cebu otap recipe.

The puff pastry is notable for its 11-stage cooking process, requiring the rolling of dough into flat layers. These are then baked inside the oven until golden brown.

After a final generous sprinkling of sugar, you are left with a brittle, crumbly pastry cookie. 

Otap is best served with coffee or tea. The Adobros website quotes food writer Gilda Cordero Fernando, saying the pastry is “for people who have the time to nibble and savor it, with a cup of coffee as part of the ritual of merienda.”

With an almost 80-year reputation, the bakery is regarded as one of the top homegrown businesses, garnering several accolades such as repeated wins as the “Best Local Delicacy” from Sunstar’s Best of Cebu. 

It was also awarded during the first Cebu Heritage Awards in 2023 for its role in preserving an important part of Cebuano cuisine. 

Shamrock now has several branches around the city, including the massive Shamrock Pasalubong Center located between Colon Street and the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. They also have a branch right outside the Fuente Osmeña Circle. 

The local bus terminal in Barili serves as a souvenir center for travelers to purchase local delicacies. Notably, the town is where Honoria Paras moved to after living in Pampanga.

OTHER PLACES TO GET OTAP

• Titay’s
  Also known as Liloan’s Queen of Cebuano delicacies, Titay’s version of otap is simple and basic, but still rich in its sweetness and crumbly texture. They are often sold in 180g boxes, with five individual packs inside.
  
  
• Bastap
  If you want to try a different variety, Bastap, the Carmen-based delicacy shop, specializes in chocolate-coated otap. These are only sold at the souvenir shop of the Bastap terminal and on online shopping platforms.
  
  
• Conching Food Industries
  Several users on Reddit have recommended this Mandaue-based company’s otap. Their otap products are available at most shopping malls and business centers.
  
  
• Hillside Bakery
  Finally, one Reddit user mentions that Hillside Bakery is the only brand with the “old school crisp” type of otap. They initially opened in Carmen and have since expanded to Cebu City, with a branch in Guadalupe.