Mexicans make tequila with agave. The Japanese make sake from rice. Filipinos make lambanog from coconuts. Though other liquors of distinct regional origin are household names, this lesser-known tropical moonshine is also in a class of its own. And drinkers know the power of the clear, neutral-yet-potent liquor all too well. The slightly sweet spirit reaches up to 45 percent alcohol.

The Philippines is the world’s second largest coconut producer (behind Indonesia). Almost a third of the country’s farmland is covered in coconut trees. Islanders first created lambanog during the pre-colonial era, and coconut plantation farmers passed down their written recipes from generation to generation. To make lambanog, farmers collect sap from the unopened coconut flower, then ferment and distill it.

Filipinas. Ingestão de licor artesanal fez nove mortos

Pelo menos nove pessoas morreram nas Filipinas e nove estão em estado crítico depois de terem ingerido um licor artesanal que continha metanol tóxico. O consumo da bebida em questão afectou mais de 130 indivíduos, informaram na segunda-feira as autoridades Filipinas.

O autarca da cidade de Rizal (na província de Laguna), Vener Munoz, disse que oito morreram em incidentes separados, depois de…

At least eight people in the Philippines have died - and 300 more taken to hospital - after drinking a local liquor made from coconut sap.

The victims came from different towns but had bought the liquor - known as lambanog - from the same shop, say local media reports.

They complained of stomach pains and dizziness before being treated.

Bootleg versions of lambanog, which has an alcohol content of around 40%, are common.

Eleven Dead, 300 Treated After Drinking Coconut Wine In Philippines

Health and local authorities in Philippines on Monday said at least 11 persons have been killed and more than 300 treated in hospital after drinking coconut wine in the south of the country’s capital, Manila.

The victims which included those who were celebrating at a Christmas party had all consumed lambanog, in Laguna and Quezon. Lambanog is a drink popular in provinces and consumed widely…