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Royal Bibingka is a kind of bibingka (a type of rice cake) that is somewhat different from the bibingka that I grew up with. The one I'm familiar with and is traditional is like a bread which is soft and spongy in texture that is made of rice flour or regular flour. Like the ones you can easily buy at kiosks in malls like Bibingkinitan. But this Royal Bibingka from Ilocos is moist and sticky in texture that is made of glutinous rice flour or also known as "malagkit" (sticky) rice flour.
And so when someone gave it to me as a pasalubong, I almost argued with her that it is not a bibingka but rather a Cassava cake. But she said to me that it is the way Ilocanos do their bibingkas. It could not be such since it is not made of Cassava (known locally as 'Kamoteng Kahoy'). And said to me, while smiling, not to worry because I'm not the only one who has mistakenly identified it since both really resembles the appearance, and the only distinction is the taste. Now I know, thanks to you my friend!
Royal Bibingka can be bought not only in Ilocos Sur, which is their main branch, but in the nearby provinces as well including the Partas Terminal in Vigan and Urdaneta in Pangasinan. So if you are visiting the places in Northern Luzon, make sure to drop by the pasalubong shops and try this kind of bibingka!
How about you, what's your favorite Pasalubong? Share it!