My Blog

Lambanog is perhaps one of the best wine and liquor that I have ever tasted. Being from Quezon province I am proud of this liquor which is 100% natural and does not include any chemical ingredients. It is 90-95 proof spirit that originates from the sap of the unopened coconut flower and cost only around P73 (US$1.60) per 1.5Liters. It is usually placed in a gallon or in the plastic container used for soft drinks like Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

Lambanog can be mixed with any other mixture like juices or even the regular lime juice. It's taste can also be made cozy by adding different ingredients like bubble gum, jack fruit (langka), and others and make it stay for a month or so. The flavor of Lambanog becomes greater the longer it is stocked.

The lambanog making process is inexpensive and coconut trees are abundant in the Philippines. This made the lambanog to be coined as a “poor man’s drink”. Aside from that, making lambanog, the process itself, is an artistic expression that is distinct to the Filipinos. It is a part of the tradition for centuries. The process of making lambanog starts with what was called the tree of life, the coconut tree.

The processing of the Lambanog is done through the following three stages:

1. Pruning of the coconut flowers – the coconut plantation worker or farmer climbs the coconut tree to prune its flowers and allow the sap to drip into a tukil or bamboo receptacle. He then returns the next morning to collect the receptacles.

2. Fermentation/Cooking of the sap – after this stage a coconut toddy locally known as tuba is produced.

3. Distillation of the tuba – the classic Lambanog is then ripened by time.

Once it is ready it will then be distributed to stores for selling and then to the end users. To enjoy lambanog Filipinos usually drink it through the "tagayan" process which is a manner of drinking liquor using one glass and those drinking takes turn in putting wine in the glass and drinking it.

The usual drinking session will last for hours and will involve music, exchange of stories, telling jokes and more. Most of the time it even dwell into politics and serious issues.

Your experience of the Philippines will not be complete and you will not truly be a Filipino without experiencing the great taste of Lambanog.



Also Visit My Other Blogs
| Newz Around Us | Ordinary People, Ordinary Day |