Buko juice, also known as coconut water, is another refreshing and popular drink that is commonly sold on the streets or in restaurants in the Philippines. The coconut meat can be used for desserts such as buko salad, buko pandan. In the Philippine provinces, some use both the coconut meat and coconut water combined with milk and crackers. It is very delicious and a perfect mid-day snack. This is a very healthy drink during the summertime as well. Healthy in the sense that it contains a lot of electrolytes and minerals needed for hydration. It is all natural and environmentally friendly. Because of its nutrients, it is becoming a popular sports drink in America and can be found sold in cans. It is being promoted as an alternative natural sports drink because in it’s natural form it contains the essential electrolytes and minerals. So, before you buy that unhealthy soda or even that high priced sports drink you are craving, try Buko juice instead as an alternative. It will definitely quench your thirst.
Good to know: Buko (the meat) is a versatile food item that’s made its way into various desserts. You get buko-pandan when you mix pandan-flavored (“pan-dan,” screwpine) gulaman with buko. Buko salad is a standard party fruit salad that combines buko strips with canned fruit-cocktail mix and cream or milk. The delicately flavored and textured buko pie uses buko as a pastry-shell filling, and then you have buko ice-lollies, bukayo (“boo-kah-yo,” candied buko), and even halu-halo served in buko, shell and all. If you love coconuts, you will be very happy in Manila!
Buko juice is a popular, refreshing drink from the Philippines. “Buko” is a Filipino word that means “young coconut.” Hence, Buko juice is also known as coconut milk drink. There are two ways to prepare a Buko juice, one that uses fresh juice from the coconut fruit and one that uses canned Buko juice concentrate. purchased from groceries carrying Asian products. Either version offers a healthy drink that has traditionally been used to treat a urinary tract infection.
(CTTO)
Fresh Coconut Juice Version
Step 1
Remove the outer shell or husk of the coconut fruit by using a sharp butcher knife or machete until the middle layer is exposed. Crack open the top part of the coconut fruit.
Step 2
Pour the coconut milk through a strainer into a tall pitcher. Straining gives you a clear coconut milk that is free of small particles.
Step 3
Use a citrus zester to remove the coconut flesh, or meat, from the shell. Add the shredded coconut meat to the pitcher, then stir in 2 cups of water and 2 tbsp. of sugar.
Pinoy StreetFoods 