Coconut wine comes in two major varieties: bahal and bahalina. The first is distilled for less than one year, whereas bahalina is distilled for a year or more.

The some popular brands include:

• San Juan Lambanog
• Ram-Ciel Lambanog
• San Juan Premium Lambanog
• Island Coco’s Lambanog Bubblegum
• Craft Distilled Lakan’s Lambanog

Origin of coconut wine

The story of this unique alcoholic drink began centuries ago in the Philippines. Before the colonial era, an early version of this beverage could be found almost everywhere. Filipinos obtained the sap of different coconut palms and made it into an alcoholic beverage called tuba. When the Spanish arrived, they took note of the drink as it was always present during social events.

In the 16th century, people started distilling tuba, turning it into Lambanog. This alcohol remains incredibly popular in the Quezon province where coconut palms grow abundantly. Coconut farmers passed down different recipes for generations, some of which are still used today. 

Nutrition

In a 100g serving, there are:

This alcoholic beverage has some surprising health benefits, if consumed in moderation. First of all, it can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack and heart disease. Coconut wine consumers with high blood pressure are up to 30 percent less likely to experience heart attacks than non-drinkers. However, excessive intake of alcohol is linked with several health issues such as diabetes, liver disease, and pancreatic disease.

Commercial production

The large-scale production of lambanog starts with harvesting the coconut palm sap, fermenting it, and then micro craft-distilling it. The resulting alcoholic beverage is quite potent and typically 80 proof. The wine market in the United States was estimated at $88 billion in 2020. However, China is forecast to reach a projected market size of up to $93.5 billion by 2027. The expected growth rate is 7.4 percent over the analysis period of 2020 to 2027. 

Application

Lambanog can be made at home by following the steps below:

• First, collect the sap from the coconut palm
• Then, place it in an uncovered glass container and leave for 3-4 days until the bubbles it releases subside. By this time, the sediment should be thick.
• After that, transfer the sap to another container and leave behind the sediment
• Finally, distill the liquid and leave the wine in a tightly sealed container for several months. 

The best way to keep this alcoholic beverage fresh is by storing it in a refrigerator. The alcoholic beverage will stay chilled, but only for a few days before it starts to ferment.

Coconut wine recipes

This beverage can craft fruity cocktails and sweets. Here are a few popular recipes to try:

• Coconut Wine Cake
• Orange Pineapple Coconut Wine
• King Wine
• Tuba
• Tropical Coconut Sangria

FDA Regulation

The FDA inspects the labeling of all foods or beverages containing coconut. They also gave a reference amount consumed per eating occasion. The TTB requires importers or US domestic producers of coconut wine to apply for its formula approval, which involves laboratory sample analysis before this alcoholic drink is produced or imported. 

References

Sarasin-Dhaene, |By Dimitry. “How To Make Coconut Wine or The Process of Making Tuba Wine.” Sarasin Vin, sarasin.be/how-to-make-coconut-wine-or-the-process-of-making-tuba-wine/

Soken-Huberty, written by Emmaline. “Not Actually Wine: The Coconut Wine Story.” Gildshire, 26 Jan. 2020, www.gildshire.com/not-actually-wine-the-coconut-wine-story/

BSc, Atli Arnarson. “Alcohol and Health: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 29 Oct. 2018, www.healthline.com/nutrition/alcohol-good-or-bad

“TTB – Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.” www.ttb.gov, U.S Department of the Treasury, 6 October 2017, www.ttb.gov/images/pdfs/formulation/abf-approval-lab-sample-analysis-print.html