Pangasi facts for kids

Pangasi, also known as pangase or gasi, is a special kind of traditional Filipino rice wine. It comes from the Visayas Islands and Mindanao in the Philippines. While it's usually made from rice, it can also be made from other native grains like millet and job's tears. Long ago, Spanish explorers called pangasi and similar Filipino drinks made from grains pitarrillos.

What is Pangasi?

Pangasi is a type of alcoholic drink made by fermenting grains. It's similar to wine, but instead of grapes, it uses rice or other cereals. This drink has been a part of Filipino culture for a very long time.

Where Does it Come From?

Pangasi is native to the Philippines, especially the central islands of the Visayas and the southern island of Mindanao. While it was once very common, it's now harder to find in many places. However, you can still find it in some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao.

How is it Made?

Pangasi is made through a process called fermentation. This is when tiny living things like yeast turn sugars into alcohol.

Traditional Ways

In Panay Island, which is part of the Western Visayas, people traditionally make pangasi by fermenting rice with different leaves and sugarcane juice. The Suludnon people on Panay are known for this method. This way of making pangasi is quite similar to how the Lumad peoples in Mindanao make their pangasi, which they also call agkud.

In the Zamboanga Peninsula, the Subanen people have three different kinds of wine they call "pangase." The traditional pangase is made from either rice or job's tears (which they call adlay). They ferment it using a special starter culture called tapay. Sometimes, they add ginger for flavor. Today, some people even add hot peppers! The mixture ferments inside large jars called bandi or tibod. This fermentation can take anywhere from two weeks to three years.

Modern Changes

Over time, some changes have happened in how pangasi is made. Nowadays, modern pangase is sometimes made using cassava tubers. Cassava is a root vegetable that was brought to the Philippines by the Spanish. This shows how traditions can change and adapt over time.

Pangasi in History and Culture

Pangasi was not just a drink to enjoy. It was also very important in the rituals of traditional Filipino spiritual leaders called babaylan shamans. These leaders used pangasi in their ceremonies for various Filipino ethnic groups. Early Spanish explorers who visited the Philippines wrote about how common pangasi was in the Visayas. This shows its deep roots in the history and culture of the islands.