Destileria Limtuaco and Karabella Dairy Partners to Create Boozy Carabao Milk Gelato
In the Destileria Limtuaco Museum, situated within the Walled City of Intramuros, Karabella, a dairy company specializing in gelato style desserts made from 100% fresh carabao milk unveiled 5 new flavors featuring prominent spirits and liqueurs from the Destileria Limtuaco Philippine Craft Spirits line.
During the launch, Olivia Limpe-Aw, President and CEO of Destileria Limtuaco & Co., Inc. welcomed guests who were treated to pulutan fare to match the unique gelato cocktail concoctions developed by Destileria Limtuaco resident mixologists.
Brandon Limpe-Aw, Vice President for Admin of Destileria Limtuaco & Co., Inc. told the story of how the project came together. He thanked the program’s emcee, Mr. Spanky Enriquez, for being instrumental in getting these two companies together to collaborate on the new products. He also thanked the people behind Karabella, Ms. Jan Buenaflor, her son – EJ and their partner Mr. Alfred Ng for considering their company.
“It was an easy decision. Learning how they started as a social enterprise with Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm, while now also being supplied by the General Trias Dairy Raiseers Multi Purpose Cooperative and the Philippine Carabao Center. This was very on brand with our Philippine Craft Spirits where we try as much as possible to limit our suppliers and work with farmers through cooperatives,” Limpe-Aw said of the reason they decided to collaborate.
The use of 100% carabao’s milk was also a factor in the decision adding
“We do not like to compromise quality with our Philippine Craft Spirits line and we always use the real thing in producing the products featured in the gelato you’re trying today.”
Carabao’s milk, while richer, is coincidentally more nutritious boasting 58% more calcium, 40% more protein and 43% less cholesterol than cow’s milk.
Karabella founder Alfred Ng talked about how Karabella started as a means to help out just 2 carabao farmers in Gawad Kalinga’s Enchanted Farm Village. And how in 2018, when his daughter decided to change careers, he was left to manage this whole new business he knew nothing about. This is where Jan and EJ Buenaflor come in. EJ, at the time, was still working as a banker but was convinced by his mother, Jan, to join the company as its Gelato chef.
When Alfred asked Jan about her son’s qualifications, she said “he loves ice cream.” EJ was hired on the spot.
The mother-son duo is currently involved in the production and marketing of Karabella gelato.
Ej, Karabella’s young and talented Gelato chef, presented their 5 new flavors that the guests were able to try throughout the event. Chocoholic (made with Very Old Captain Rum), Paradise Mango Rum Liqueur gelato (mango-cashew), Amadeo Coffee Liqueur gelato (coffee-cacao nibs), Manille Liqueur de Calamansi Gelato (calamansi-basil) and Intramuros Liqueur de Cacao gelato (tablea-chocolate chips)
Guests were the treated to a tour of Destileria Limtuaco Museum with several ice cream stops throughout the walk.
Karabella gelato featuring Philippine Craft Spirits will be available in August in Destileria Limtuaco Museum and liquorexpress.ph and major supermarket in the 4th quarter of 2022
