THE PRODUCT:
Coco Vodka or
Lambanog is the distilled spirit of the fermented sap of the
coconut tree blooms. Regularly about 80 to 90 percent proof. The Philippines, being a tropical country is home to the most delicious and perfect varieties of
coconut compared to other coconut producing countries. The more than 7000 islands all interconnected with bodies of water are habitat to varieties of luscious
coconuts than anywhere else around the world. And one of the Philippine’s pride from
coconut produce is coco vodka or the ones locally known as
lambanog. Each bottle of this precious vodka bears the intricate process to produce handed down from generation to generation. Even before the early folks learned making wines from grapes and other fruits introduced by the Spain and other countries. Lambanog was being served to the island guests, feasts and other tribal events in the early times. The process of making this wine has been traditionally passed down from generations to generations. And now, the tradition levels up and harnessed for export to selected countries so that others can savor its exquisite and delectable taste.
THE PROCESS:
Lambanog is made from the collected nectar sap of the
coconut blooms. Similar to the process how a rubber tree was being tapped. Getting the sap requires the skills of the coco workers or mangagarit to climb around 100 to 120 of tall coconut trees on hectares and hectares of
coconut groves which are intertwined by a labyrinth of interconnected bamboo poles where the workers(mangagarit) balances and walk through every tree to collect the sap. Each tree averages about 30 feet high from the ground. When you see them from below, you would think they were monkeys balancing in the air. Every afternoon, the coco flower nectars are pruned and a stainless tube called tukil are placed to collect the sap drippings overnight.
Emptying the sap collected by the tukils overnight will be done the following morning. Each tukil collected by the mangagarit will be transferred to a tabang, a collecting tube attached to the body of the mangagarit where content of the tukil were transferred during the morning collection.
Once all the sap are collected for that day, the toddy on the
tabang will be transferred into fermentation containers and will be left to ferment for about 2 to 3 days, a period enough to avoid further acidity. After the fermentation process, the toddy which at this stage is called tuba is skimmed and transferred to a stainless steel drum for the distillation process. The tuba is naturally sweet to taste but already possesses the liquor spirit of the potent
lambanog.
The cooking process part of the distillation will be tightly monitored and controlled to prevent over boiling and also prevent the burnt taste of the distilled produce. Flavors and spikes shall be added at this stage to complete the process.
THE TASTE
Some wine experts described the taste of the coco vodka as somewhere between whisky and rum. However, this delectable favoured local vodka can still be concocted into spikes creating a variety still of delightful wine mixes. Mix it with rum, margarita, martini, whisky,tequila and if you’ve got that exploring taste mix it with gin and voila! You will get mixes which each has unique taste. That is why more and more bars and wine competition favored this in their concoction. Mix it in gourmet dishes and you’re surely be creating dishes ready to be on the top menus. There are certainly a hundred and one ways to enjoy this natural bounty from the coconut tree called
lambanog.
THE MARKET:
The product made its way to the foreign markets in the year 2001. The constant innovation and taste enhancement also attracts many business ventures. But aside from the inexpensive cost of production, there is still a very large edge and lead to explore since there are still markets to penetrate like Canada, the US, Europe and the Middle East who has not yet tasted nor seen these produce from the Philippines. Something for wise entrepreneurs to venture with.
STOCK NO: DL--20130911-001
FEATURED BOTTLED BRAND: ; DORY'S LAMBALITES
PRICE: $23 or Php1,000.00
SHIPPING CHARGES APPLIED
