Puto sikwate is something that everyone enjoys.
Grimy, fetid, and rowdy—perhaps these are the things that come to mind when we think of the Carbon Public Market. Even with recent renovations, it still gets a bad rap.
Yet, the Carbon Public Market welcomes everyone looking for affordable essentials.
For those accustomed to a life of comfort, Carbon can feel like a nightmare. But if you’re on a tight budget, it’s a haven for your pocket. The market offers a lot of great finds at low prices.
Not to mention, it’s also home to one of Cebu’s prized local delicacies: a budget combo that can kickstart your day.
It’s the gem you receive after hearing that Cebuano invitation to have something that will warm your stomach. How do the locals say it?
Ah, “Mamainit ta!”
Enter puto sikwate at Carbon Public Market.
PUTO SIKWATE SA CARBON
Puto sikwate is a Cebuano version of a popular Pinoy breakfast snack combo, puto maya and sikwate.
Puto
Ever heard of Thailand’s mango sticky rice? Cebuano puto is pretty similar, usually without the mango. We often pair it with a warm drink, and a sprinkle of sugar is optional.
Now, “puto” is short for puto maya, a sticky rice cake. While puto and puto maya are both traditional Filipino rice cakes, they’re technically different. Puto uses rice flour, while puto maya is made from glutinous rice grains.
Locals in Cebu often use these terms interchangeably. But if we want to be specific, we might say “puto puti” when talking about the rice flour version.
Puto maya itself is made from glutinous rice (malagkit), coconut milk, sugar, and a hint of ginger for flavor.
At Carbon Market, a serving of puto will only set you back about Php 5 to Php 10. Prices can vary a bit between vendors.
Most stalls even offer two types of sugar (as condiments) for free: brown sugar and muscovado sugar. The latter is the crowd favorite for its mildly sweet and interesting taste.
Sikwate
Source: Yvette Tan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Changes made: converted to WEBP
Sikwate is a favorite hot chocolate drink here in Cebu. Its main ingredients are simple: water and tablea.
So, what’s tablea? It’s a Philippine product, made from roasted and ground pure cacao beans, typically pressed into tablets. The name “tablea” comes from the Spanish word for “tablet.”
To make this Filipino hot chocolate, you just add tablea to boiling water. Stir it until all the lumps are gone. Sweeteners are optional.
At Carbon Public Market, you can grab a cup of sikwate for around Php 5 to Php 20. It’s a great deal!
For the best experience, many locals and visitors suggest a trick: drizzle a teaspoon of sikwate onto your puto, especially if you’ve added muscovado sugar. It really takes the flavor to the next level.
EVERYONE’S COMFORT FOOD
Puto sikwate offers so much more than just good taste and an affordable price. This dish has nourished countless hungry stomachs. It has also become a hallmark of traditional Cebuano cooking, even if it shares roots with flavors from neighboring countries.
Anyone can enjoy puto sikwate. You can even whip up your own batch at home. Or, just wait for hawkers to pass by your neighborhood.
While it’s a popular delicacy sold at the Carbon Public Market, you’ll find puto sikwate all over Cebu City. From fancy malls and cheap stalls to hotel banquets, this delicacy is served almost everywhere.
This simple meal has been a lifeline for many as well. It helps poor families get by. It feeds students on a tight budget. It’s also a go-to for workers during “tingbits”—that Cebuano term for when money is scarce.
Truly, puto sikwate is for absolutely everyone to enjoy.
BUSINESS HOURS
Most puto sikwate vendors operate from 5:00 PM to 5:00 AM daily.
There are about 6 or 8 stalls selling this Cebuano comfort food scattered across the public market. Some vendors might operate a little earlier or later than others.
EXACT LOCATION (CARBON PUBLIC MARKET)
Most puto sikwate vendors are concentrated at the Carbon Market Interim Building grounds, along F. Calderon Street.
Address
23 Quezon Blvd, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu
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You don’t need a lot of cash to enjoy this Cebuano favorite. If you’re hungry or just craving some Filipino kakanin but on a tight budget, puto sikwate is your saving grace.
The price of puto sikwate at Carbon Market ranges from Php 20 to Php 30 per pair.
Beyond this sweet and satisfying combo, there’s even more to discover when you visit Cebu City’s historic public market and classic landmark.
