Bukayo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bukayo

Top: Freshly-made bukayo; Center: Packaged bukayo in a market in Silay; Bottom: Bitsu-bitsu doughnut with bukayo filling
Alternative names	Bucaio, bucayo, bokayo, bukayu, bukhayo, conserua de coco
Type	Dessert
Place of origin	Philippines
Main ingredients	Gelatinous coconut, water, sugar or brown sugar
Variations	Bocarillo

Bukayo is a yummy Filipino dessert. It's made from sweet coconut strips. Imagine soft, chewy coconut mixed with a special kind of melted brown sugar!

This sweet treat is usually made by cooking young, soft coconut meat (called buko) in water. Then, a special type of sugarcane brown sugar, called sinuklob, is added. This sugar melts into a thick, chewy caramel. Sometimes, bukayo is made drier and crumbly. This version is known as bocarillo.

You can eat bukayo all by itself, often rolled into small balls. But it's also used in other desserts! It can be a tasty filling for breads like pan de coco or pastries like sinudlan empanada. It can also be used as a topping or decoration for other sweet dishes.

What is Bukayo?

Bukayo is a traditional sweet from the Philippines. It's a simple dessert but very popular. It shows how Filipinos use local ingredients like coconuts to make delicious food.

Different Names for Bukayo

Bukayo has a few different spellings. You might see it written as bucaio, bucayo, bokayo, bukhayo, or bukayu. When Spain ruled the Philippines a long time ago, people called it conserva de coco. This means "coconut preserve" in Spanish. In the Tausug language, another name for it is hinti.

Sometimes, a sweet snack called peanut brittle is also called bukayo mani in the Philippines. This is because mani means peanuts, and it's a similar type of sweet treat.

How Bukayo is Made

Making bukayo is a traditional process. It starts with fresh, young coconut meat. This meat is softer and more jelly-like than mature coconut.

• First, the coconut meat is cut into strips or shredded.
• Then, it's cooked slowly in water.
• Next, sinuklob (a special brown sugar) is added. This sugar is melted until it becomes thick and sticky, like caramel.
• The mixture is stirred until the coconut strips are fully coated and sweet.
• As it cools, the bukayo becomes chewy and delicious.

Types of Bukayo

There are two main types of bukayo:

• Chewy Bukayo: This is the most common type. It's soft and sticky, perfect for rolling into balls.
• Bocarillo: This version is drier and has a crumbly texture. It's still sweet but less chewy.

Where to Find Bukayo

Bukayo is a common treat in the Philippines. You can often find it in local markets, especially in areas where coconuts are grown. It's a popular snack to buy and share with friends and family. Many families also make it at home using their own recipes.