Although the Philippines' hot summers can be a problem for some, sweet and cold treats can make these warm months a bit more bearable.  As a tropical country, the Philippines will never run short of exotic ingredients to experiment on, to prepare and to enjoy.  

One such treat is the saba con yelo.  Its appeal comes from its ease to create and its simple, sweet, curious taste.  Although available all throughout the year in many Filipino-themed restaurants, saba con yelo is especially sought after during the warm Philippine summer.

Saba con yelo is a mixture of shaved or crushed ice, milk, sugar and caramelized boiled plantains. Like halo-halo and mais con yelo, saba con yelo is popular as a dessert or a snack by itself during summer months in the Philippines.

There are many options on how one can enjoy this frozen delight. Different varieties exist, like using different kinds of milk, like fresh, evaporated or condensed, or adding cream or ice cream.

The main ingredient, the saba or plantains, is caramelized by boiling it with water and brown sugar.  The result is soft plantains in sweet, brown syrup.  Aside from the usual ingredients, one can opt to prepare the plantains with additional langka or jackfruit, or pandan.

Because of its simple preparation, saba con yelo is particularly popular as a snack or dessert that can be made at home to be served to friends and family.