Yema

Yema is a sweet treat made from egg yolks and condensed milk.

The word Yema is Spanish for “egg yolk.”

All kinds of legends have been perpetuated about the origins of yema. One of the most charming harks back to Spanish times when the walls of churches and houses used egg white as binding agent. It is said the housewives didn’t know what to do with the egg yolks — quite a lot considering the amount of egg white that will bind a church wall — and had no recourse but to invent yema.

This is the luscious sweet made of egg yolk cooked in sugar until the consistency when it can be rolled in refined sugar into balls (about an inch in diameter), firm to the touch but moist with pure goodness within.

A famous Filipino brand is Tower Yema, made by the Eng Seng food company. Tagline: The taste you can’t resist.

Eng Seng flavors of yema: plain, ube, mocha, mango, strawberry, melon, peanut, pandan, langka, coffee, chocolate, durina

How to make yema? Recipe in English to be posted here soon. Meanwhile, here’s a transcript of the video of the infamous Pastillas Girl bitterly teaching her ex-boyfriend how to make yema!

Paano Gumawa ng Yema

Simple lang… Siyempre hindi na mawawala sa atin ‘yung condensed milk. 

Isa lang… Matuto kang makuntento sa isa lang… Pero siyempre dahil gusto mo ng pang-party-size, bibili ka ng madami. 

Angel Condensada, ha? Para kahit man lang sa gatas ako ‘yung piliin mo. 

Tapos, ilagay mo sa mainit na kawali… kasing-init ng dugo ko sa iyo nang nakita ko ‘yung piktyur n’yo ng bago mo. 

Halu-haluin mo lang hanggang ‘yung malapot na yema unti-unti nang namumuo… parang galit ko sa iyo.

Pero kung ayaw mong iwanan, tapos patay-gutom ka, gusto mo pa ring kainin, okey lang naman. Kainin mo na. Mag-share pa kayo ng bago mo. Huwag kang mag-alala. Wala akong linagay na lason diyan. Kabiteran ko ang papatay sa iyo.

Ingredients For Making Yema

condensed milk, egg yolks, and bitterness

Nuts are optional.