Ilocos Norte preserves balicucha-making tradition through regional culinary tour

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur — The balicucha-making tradition of Ilocos Norte has taken center stage in a regional initiative designed to celebrate and sustain local culinary heritage.

The activity, held in Barangay Maynganay as part of the Raniag: Region 1 Creative Tour, provided visitors with hands-on experience in the production of balicucha, a traditional confection representing the cultural and gastronomic identity of the province.

The Raniag initiative features local enterprises and traditional food-making practices, aiming to introduce artisanal products to broader markets while supporting community-based producers. The balicucha-making demonstration underscores growing efforts across the Ilocos region to preserve traditional food-making methods that have sustained local economies for generations.

Regional officials have prioritized such cultural tourism activities as a means of generating economic opportunities for rural communities while safeguarding indigenous food traditions from being displaced by mass-produced alternatives.