Intus facts for kids

Intus was a special traditional alcoholic drink from the Philippines. It was made long ago, even before the Spanish arrived. This drink was popular in the Visayas Islands and Mindanao.

Intus was made from sugarcane juice. The word intus means "reduced" or "thickened liquid." This name came from the Old Visayan word itus, which means "to reduce."

What Was Intus?

Intus was a type of wine made from sugarcane. It was an important part of the culture in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. People made and drank Intus for many years.

How Was Intus Made?

Making Intus was a careful process. First, sugarcane juice was boiled until it became a thick syrup. This is like reducing a sauce in cooking. After the syrup cooled down, bark from the kabarawan tree (Neolitsea villosa) was added. This mixture was then left to ferment. Fermentation is a natural process where tiny living things change sugars into alcohol.

Among the Lumad people in Mindanao, they sometimes added special flavors. They used roots from plants like langkawas (Alpinia galanga) or pal-la (Cordyline fruticosa) to make the drink taste different.

Why Did Intus Disappear?

Sadly, Intus is no longer made today. Like another drink called kabarawan, the tradition of making Intus was lost. This happened during the time when Spain ruled the Philippines. Many old Filipino traditions changed or disappeared during this period.

See also

In Spanish: Intus para niños