Local Drinks

1. Tubig

   Water

   Usage

   Eateries may put a free jug on the table, but do not drink the tap water. Ask for "mineral water" if you want it bottled

2. Butong

   Young coconut (juice)

   Usage

   This is the Cebuano word for a young coconut. Tagalog buko is understood in tourist areas, but in Cebuano buko means "node"

3. Kape

   Coffee

   Usage

   In small eateries this usually means sweetened 3-in-1 instant. The same word also names the colour brown

4. Sikwati

   Sikwati (native hot chocolate)

   Usage

   Thick chocolate made by dissolving tabliya discs in hot water — the classic breakfast pairing with budbod. It also has an unrelated verb sense, "to trounce"

5. Tabliya

   Tabliya (pure cocoa tablet)

   Usage

   The unsweetened cocoa disc that sikwati is made from. Sold in bags at markets and taken home as a souvenir

6. Gatas

   Milk

   Usage

   Usually shelf-stable cartons, or condensed/evaporated milk. To avoid dairy, say "walay gatas" (without milk)

7. Tsa

   Tea

   Usage

   Often not available in small eateries — look for Chinese restaurants or the milk-tea shops in town

8. Salabat

   Ginger tea

   Usage

   Hot tea brewed from ginger (luy-a). Commonly offered when you have a sore throat

9. Limonsito

   Calamondin (small citrus)

   Usage

   The Cebuano form; nationally the Tagalog kalamansi is what people say. Squeezed into juice, and also over noodles and grilled food

10. Ilimnon

    Drinks (general term)

    Usage

    From the verb inom (to drink). Used as the drinks heading on a menu

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