Filipino Drinks to Try When Visiting the Philippines

Filipino food has long left a mark on the international culinary scene. According to a Philstar article, Cebu’s lechon, nilarang bakasi, and tuslob buwa were even featured on a show on the popular streaming platform Netflix.

While you may be familiar with the various food offerings in the Philippines, how much do you know about Filipino drinks?

Let's go through some popular choices, from alcoholic beverages to non-alcoholic ones.

Filipino Alcoholic Drinks

Do Filipinos drink alcohol?

The real question here is, when don’t they?

Filipinos don’t need an occasion for drinking. It’s simply part of their culture as a way to bond with family and friends. The best thing about it is that they don’t make the experience exclusive to themselves.

If you’re a foreigner in the Philippines and you happen to come across a Filipino drinking session (inuman), you’re bound to receive an invitation to join in on the fun.

Some of the best Filipino alcoholic drinks don’t easily get people drunk. But others quietly sneak up on you.

Here are some famous Filipino alcoholic drinks—from beers, cocktails, and whiskeys to locally produced liquors. With enough knowledge of the various drinks you may encounter, it will be easier for you to enjoy the experience.

Filipino Beers

Beer is the go-to drink for many Filipinos. It’s cheap, tasty, and it gives you a good buzz.

Many restaurants, bars, and even convenience stores offer promos, which makes purchasing beer for an inuman session even more enticing.

But Filipinos don’t just drink any beer brand. They have different preferences, and the following are some of their top choices:

1. San Miguel Pale Pilsen

This beer brand is the most popular because it’s “easy to drink,” meaning even first-timers will enjoy it.

Moreover, San Miguel Pale Pilsen is associated with friendship. That’s because the beer brand has been the country’s number one choice whenever the locals want to share in each other’s struggles or joys over a drink.

2. Red Horse Beer

When it comes to purchasing alcoholic beverages, Filipinos want to get their money’s worth. Which generally means that they want to feel its effects.

Unlike the Pale Pilsen, Red Horse has a stronger kick due to its higher alcohol content.

If you’re at a party and Filipinos offer you a bottle of this beer, prepare to see your energy levels reach an all-time high. You may be left hungover in the morning if you drink too much, but at least you were able to let loose the night before.

3. Gold Eagle Beer

Gold Eagle Beer is also produced by the San Miguel Corporation. However, if you’re in the big city of Metro Manila, it’s unlikely that you’ll see this during drinking sessions.

This beer brand is more popular in the provinces of Visayas and Mindanao.

If you’re visiting these regions, you’ll often see Filipinos sitting at a sari-sari store and drinking this beer.

If they invite you to join them, don’t miss out on a great bonding session as you try out this rare Filipino drink brand.

Filipino Wines

Filipinos are known for having a sweet tooth. So the fine bitterness in wine is unappealing to their palate.

But their ability to innovate knows no bounds.

Most wines are sourced from organic products in the country’s different regions. They also make up a part of many traditional Filipino alcoholic drinks.

Here are some of them:

1. Basi

One of the Philippines' major exports is sugar. It should come as no surprise that one of the most popular beverages is made from sugarcane.

The basi Filipino drink or sugarcane wine originates from the Ilocos region and has been consumed by Filipinos since the Spanish colonization.

It has a sweet and sour flavor that can be addictive, hence its long-standing popularity.

2. Tuba

If you visit the rural areas in the country, you’ll see an abundance of coconut trees. And out of these, Filipinos make their own wine called tuba.

The tuba Filipino drink originated from Cebu. Its taste is similar to champagne. It’s sweet, carbonated, and has a strong kick. But unlike champagne, it’s highly affordable.

3. Calamansi Wine

In the Philippines, there’s a fruit crop called calamansi.

Filipinos use it for cooking, cleaning, strengthening the immune system, and cleansing the skin. Other than that, locals often use calamansi to make wine.

Its sweet and citrusy flavor makes it the best palate cleanser. If you’re staying with a Filipino family, especially in the province, they may offer this drink to you immediately after lunch if they have one in stock.

Filipino Whiskeys

As much as Filipinos love whiskey, most of them are quite expensive. Instead of getting popular whiskey brands, they opt for ones made locally.

Here are some of the top choices:

1. Tanduay Embassy

Among the many Filipino whiskeys, the Tanduay Embassy is a must-have. That’s because it’s both cheap and flavorful, hitting two birds with one stone.

A lot of the time, older men in a Filipino family will pull out a Tanduay Embassy on a quiet afternoon. They would then take leisurely sips as they play cards or talk about plans for their family.

2. Crows Single Malt Craft Whiskey

Bold and gutsy. That’s how Filipinos are. So don’t be surprised if they love an equally bold and gutsy whiskey brand.

Crows Single Malt Whiskey is the first single malt brand produced in the country. Moreover, the brewery had to transition from producing botanical gins to whiskey, a risk met with success.

This whiskey has a strong taste with notes of caramel, bananas, citrus, and sourdough, and it’s well-loved by avid Filipino drinkers.

If you’re having an inuman session with Crows on the table, take it easy, as this Filipino whiskey is not for the faint of heart.

3. White Castle Whisky

Back in the ‘90s, an advertisement for White Castle was shown on Philippine television. Since then, Filipinos have purchased the brand, making its popularity skyrocket.

Even now, White Castle Whisky is something you are likely to find in an inuman.

Among the many options for Filipino hard drinks, locals usually get White Castle Whisky, especially if they don’t want to deal with a nasty hangover in the morning.

Other Famous Filipino Drinks

Aside from beers, wines, and whiskeys, Filipinos also drink other types of liquor. Here are some popular ones:

1. Tanduay Rum

In a street setting inuman, you’ll likely see Tanduay Rum placed at the center of the table. Those gathered around take shots from the bottle until it’s empty.

Although it’s super cheap, it’s definitely not for non-avid fans of alcoholic drinks. That’s because after its sweetness comes a wave of spice that burns your throat.

This Filipino drink is best mixed with fruit juice or iced tea.

2. Ginebra San Miguel Gin

Whether you go to a sari-sari store in a rural area or a convenience store in the city, you’ll find bottles of Ginebra San Miguel Gin.

This Filipino alcoholic drink is the largest-selling gin nationwide.

When drunk on its own, you can feel a chemical aftertaste. As such, Filipinos mostly mix this with other beverages to create various versions of Filipino cocktail drinks.

3. Emperador Brandy

Not many Filipinos can afford this brand of Filipino drink to consume at a casual inuman. So, they wait for a special occasion to come around and purchase it.

Or, if they’re lucky, a well-off relative will bring over a bottle of Emperador Brandy as a gift. And if there’s an extra bottle, they’ll reserve it for the next occasion.

If Filipinos get their Emperador Brandy out of the alcohol cabinet to share with you, know that they’re doing this to share their blessings.

Filipino Cocktails

Filipinos love to mix and match, from music and language to beverages.

Using some Filipino drinks mentioned above, locals create their own blend of cocktails.

Here are some of the most popular ones:

1. GinPom

One of the classic Filipino mixed drinks is the GinPom.

Based on its name, the main ingredients of this drink are gin and pomelo powdered juice.

Since gin is a hard liquor, Filipinos light it on fire before pouring it into the mix (try looking it up). They believe that by doing this, they’re lessening the kick of the alcohol.

But don’t be fooled by what they say and the sweet taste of this cocktail, as the GinPom mix can still give you a rough hangover.

2. Mestiza

In western countries, they have Rum and Coke, which is basically what the name suggests.

Filipinos took inspiration from this drink and made mestiza.

In everyday conversation, the term refers to a woman of mixed ancestry. And for them, that’s what this drink is.

But instead of purely mixing rum and Coke, Filipinos add two parts of beer. Sometimes they’ll use other Filipino soft drinks, like Sprite, Pepsi, or 7UP.

3. Kagatan

You’ve probably heard of the famous Italian coffee dessert called Affogato.

Well, Filipinos have their own version of it called kagatan.

The name of the drink describes its ingredients, which are coffee (kape), milk (gatas), and Tanduay rum (Tanduay).

It also applies to the word “kagat,” which means to bite, referring to the bitter taste of alcohol that follows the drink’s sweet, creamy flavor.

When offered kagatan, beware of the bite.

Filipino Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Want to dial down on alcoholic Filipino drinks?

Here are some popular non-alcoholic options that you can pair with a light snack or a full meal - from cold drinks to hot beverages.

Filipino Street Drinks

The Philippines is a tropical country. Most days, especially during the months of March, April, and May, the weather is hot and humid. You can’t help but look for a drink to quench your thirst.

Fortunately, you can easily find one along the streets. Many Filipino vendors have small stalls along the sidewalk, selling all kinds of Filipino summer drinks (samalamig). At a cheap price, too!

Here are some examples:

1. Sago at Gulaman

This is a Filipino drink with tapioca pearls (sago), brown sugar, agar-agar jelly (gulaman), and vanilla syrup. Vendors serve it with plenty of ice, making you feel refreshed with just one sip.

The gulaman Filipino drink is usually dark brown in color because of the sugar used. But sometimes, you’ll see vendors selling a green-colored version, which has melon-flavored (pandan) gelatin as an additional ingredient and coconut milk (buko) as a substitute for water.

2. Mango Tapioca

Here’s another Filipino sago drink on the list. It’s very similar to the one above. But instead of melon-flavored gelatin and gulaman, it has sweet mango bits. Locals consider this more of a dessert drink because of its creamier and thicker coconut milk base.

3. Melon sa Malamig

Only three ingredients make up this cantaloupe Filipino drink recipe—shredded fruit, water, and sugar. However, some vendors make it extra sweet by adding condensed or evaporated milk.

4. Filipino Juice Drinks

Street vendors also sell various fresh fruit juices and shakes. A few common ones are citrus (calamansi), coconut, and mango.

Calamansi has a naturally sour taste, so think of it as the Filipino version of lemonade.

Meanwhile, the coconut is a life-giving plant. People process parts of it to make products, such as oil, ropes, brooms, and furniture. But for many Filipinos, the most prized and accessible part is the juice.

Vendors don’t have to do much to prepare it for you. All they have to do is cut open the fruit, and there you have it—an instant Filipino coconut drink. In some cases, you can enjoy it straight from the shell.

On the other hand, the Filipino mango drink is a local favorite. Philippine or Carabao mangoes are sweeter than other variants, especially if they’re from Guimaras Island.

If you can’t find any vendors selling fresh fruit juice and want a quick refreshment, go to your nearby sari-sari store and look for these Filipino juice drink brands: Tang, Eight O’Clock, Locally, and C2.

The first two are powdered juices, Locally is a canned beverage, and the C2 Filipino drink is bottled green tea. However, many Filipinos consider it juice because its most popular flavor is green tea apple juice.

Filipino Soft Drinks

According to a survey on beverage consumption, Filipinos, especially the younger generation, consistently consume sweetened beverages, like fruit juices and chocolate-based drinks. But among them, soft drinks (cola) are the most popular. Why?

The researchers highlighted a previous study explaining that soft drinks are among the most affordable food items. Moreover, they can be found anywhere, from sari-sari stores to grocery shops.

Who wouldn’t want these Filipino cold drinks, especially when craving something sweet?

1. Coca-Cola

Having this on the Filipino drinks list may surprise you. After all, isn’t Coca-Cola an American product?

Indeed, it is. However, this soft drink has cemented itself as part of the Filipino gastronomic experience.

According to a pop culture review of Coca-Cola, the company made relatable advertisements, showing farmers enjoying this product after toiling under the heat of the sun and neighborhood friends sharing a drink as they lounged at a sari-sari store.

These advertisements were relatable and convinced Filipinos to incorporate them into their everyday lives.

2. Royal Tru

The Royal Filipino drink became popular in the 80s when the company used teen heartthrob RJ Ledesma in one of its ads. Back then, the only flavor available was orange. Now, it has other variants, like lemon, grape, and orange light.

3. Pepsi

Pepsi is one of the most popular Filipino drinks, along with Coca-Cola. These two have slightly similar ingredients, which is why they have a long-standing rivalry in sales.

In terms of taste, Pepsi has a citrusy flavor, while Coca-Cola has hints of vanilla and cinnamon.

Filipino Hot Drinks

One peculiar thing about Filipinos is that even if they’re already sweating from the heat, they’ll still make a hot drink for themselves.

Curious? Try these hot Filipino drinks on a hot day, most of which are breakfast and childhood favorites:

1. Instant Coffee

The weather is 40 degrees Celsius. But many construction workers, police enforcers, and motorcycle drivers are sipping hot cups of instant coffee.

According to the National Institute of Health, a hot drink is refreshing during hot weather because it triggers sweating, helping the body control its temperature (Yap 2024). It’s not a bad combination; hence, Filipinos drink coffee despite the heat.

2. Taho

Taho is a Filipino drink with silken tofu, sago pearls, and brown sugar syrup. Many locals have fond memories of taho. Some remember it as a Filipino childhood drink sold outside of school, while others recall how a taho vendor would roam around their village, yelling, “Tahooo!” to make their presence known

What’s more is that you can enjoy this drink for breakfast or an afternoon snack.

3. Hot Chocolate

If we’re talking about hot chocolate, Americans would likely mention Swiss Miss or Nesquik, to name a few. But most Filipinos only have one brand in mind—Milo.

The Milo Filipino drink is a breakfast staple, especially for children and young adults. Why not satisfy your inner child by giving this a try?

Enjoy These Filipino Drinks Like the Locals!

Want to bond with the locals?

Looking for something cold on a hot summer day?

Craving something sweet?

There’s a drink, whether alcoholic or non-alcoholic, for every need or occasion. That being said, explore some of the aforementioned Filipino drinks. It’ll surely come in handy during your stay.