Yema (candy)

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Synthesised from Google · Yelp · TripAdvisor · Reddit · 2 food blogs · Updated August 2026

The story the reviews tell

Yema is a Filipino custard candy born from necessity and colonial history—egg yolks that would have been discarded are whisked with milk and sugar into something golden and deeply sweet. The name itself is simply Spanish for egg yolk, a direct nod to its origins as kitchens found purpose for the whites already bound into mortar during the Spanish colonization. Modern versions crack in chopped nuts, and the candy has matured into a filling for cakes, breads, and bars across the Philippines.

What makes this version distinct

Yema is a sweet custard confectionery from the Philippines. It is made with egg yolks, milk, and sugar. The name yema is from Spanish for "egg yolk". Like other egg yolk-based Filipino desserts, it is believed that yema originated from early Spanish construction materials. During the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, egg whites mixed with quicklime and eggshells were used as a type of mortar to hold stone walls together. Filipinos reused the discarded egg yolks into various dishes. Among them is yema, which is possibly based on the Spanish pastry Yemas de Santa Teresa. Modern variations also usually include chopped nuts. Yema has also evolved into a Filipino custard flavor or Filipino caramel filling for other pastries and sweets like cakes, breads, and bars.

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