Kabarawan facts for kids

Kabarawan was a special traditional drink from the Philippines. It was made a long time ago, even before the Spanish arrived. This drink was a type of mead, which is an alcoholic drink made from honey.

What was Kabarawan?

Kabarawan was a unique drink, almost like a honey wine. It was important to the Visayan people, who lived in the central part of the Philippines. They made and enjoyed this drink as part of their culture.

How it was Made

Making Kabarawan was a detailed process. First, people would gather bark from a special tree called the kabarawan tree (its scientific name is Neolitsea villosa). This bark had a nice smell.

The bark was ground up and then boiled until it turned into a thick paste. After that, an equal amount of sweet honey was mixed in. This mixture was then left to ferment. Fermenting is a natural process where sugars turn into alcohol.

People traditionally drank Kabarawan from jars. They used long straws made from reeds or bamboo to sip the drink.

A Lost Tradition

Sadly, the tradition of making Kabarawan has been lost over time. People in the Philippines today no longer make this specific drink. However, the bark of the kabarawan tree is still used! It can be used to add flavor to other traditional Filipino drinks, like intus and basi. Both of these drinks are made from sugarcane juice.

See also

In Spanish: Kabarawan para niños