Mache (food) facts for kids
| Alternative names | Matse |
|---|---|
| Course | Dessert or snack |
| Place of origin | Philippines |
| Region or state | Santa Rosa and Biñan, Laguna |
| Serving temperature | Room temperature |
| Main ingredients | Glutinous rice, sugar, pandan, grated coconut |
| Similar dishes | Moche, Masi, Buchi, Palitaw |
Mache or matse is a yummy treat from the Laguna province in the Philippines. It's a type of sweet, chewy ball made from special sticky rice. People often enjoy Mache as a dessert or a quick snack.
What is Mache?
Mache are small, round balls made from glutinous rice, which is also known as sticky rice. These delicious treats are usually plain white or sometimes green, if they are flavored with a plant called pandan. They are a popular snack in areas like Santa Rosa and Biñan.
How Mache is Made
Making Mache starts with a special kind of rice flour called galapong. This flour is made by soaking glutinous rice and then grinding it into a fine powder.
- First, the galapong is mixed with water to form a dough.
- Sometimes, pandan extract is added to the dough. This gives the Mache a nice green color and a unique, sweet smell.
- The dough is then shaped into small balls and boiled until they are cooked through.
- After boiling, the Mache balls are filled with a sweet mixture. This filling usually includes toasted sesame seeds and sugar.
- Finally, the Mache balls are rolled in more glutinous rice flour or powdered sugar. This adds extra sweetness and gives them a soft, powdery coating.
Flavors and Colors
Mache can be either plain white or a lovely green color. The green color comes from the natural green juice of the pandan plant. Pandan gives the Mache a unique, slightly vanilla-like flavor that many people love. Some versions of Mache also have a hint of coconut flavor.
Similar Filipino Treats
Mache is part of a family of delicious Filipino sticky rice desserts. Other treats that are very similar to Mache include:
- Moche: This is a similar dish from the Kapampangan region.
- Masi: A treat from the Cebuano people, also made from sticky rice.
- Buchi: Another popular fried glutinous rice ball, often filled with sweet bean paste.
- Palitaw: Flat, chewy rice cakes usually served with grated coconut, sesame seeds, and sugar.
These dishes all share the common ingredient of glutinous rice, showing how important it is in Philippine desserts.
