''Latík'' () refers to two different

coconut The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family (biology), family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, ...

-based ingredients in

Filipino cuisine Filipino cuisine is composed of the cuisines of more than a hundred distinct Ethnic groups in the Philippines, ethnolinguistic groups found throughout the Philippines, Philippine archipelago. A majority of mainstream Filipino dishes that comp ...

. In the Visayan region it refers to a syrupy caramelized coconut cream (coconut caramel) used as a dessert sauce. In the northern Philippines, it refers to solid by-products of coconut oil production (coconut curds), used as garnishing for a variety of desserts.

Visayan ''Latik''

''Latík'' in its original sense in the

Visayan languages The Bisayan languages or Visayan languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages spoken in the Philippines. They are most closely related to Tagalog and the Bikol languages, all of which are part of the Central Philippine languages. Mo ...

literally means '

syrup In cooking, syrup (less commonly sirup; from ; , beverage, wine and ) is a condiment that is a thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a Solution (chemistry), solution of sugar in water, containing a large amount of dissolved sugars but ...

' (equivalent to ''arnibal'' in Hiligaynon). It can refer to any type of thick sweetened liquids including jam. In the most common usage, however, ''latik'' means a syrupy

condiment A condiment is a preparation that is added to food, typically after cooking, to enhance the Flavoring, flavour, to complement the dish or to impart a specific flavor. Such specific flavors generally add sweetness or pungency, or sharp or piquant ...

derived from reducing coconut milk and sugar. It is used much in the same way as syrup, in dishes like ''

kalamay ''Kalamay'' (also spelled ''calamay'', literally "sugar") is a sticky sweet delicacy that is popular in many regions of the Philippines. It is made of coconut milk, brown sugar, and ground glutinous rice. It can also be flavored with margarine, ...

'' and '' suman''. It is usually Anglicized as "coconut caramel." A commercial version of the Visayan ''latik'' is marketed internationally as coconut syrup, although it should not be confused with

coconut sugar Coconut sugar (also known as coco sugar, coconut palm sugar, coco sap sugar or coconut blossom sugar) is a palm sugar produced from the sap of the flower bud stem of the coconut palm. Other types of palm sugar are made from the kithul palm ('' Ca ...

derived from coconut sap.

Tagalog ''Latík''

''Latík'' in

Luzon Luzon ( , ) is the largest and most populous List of islands in the Philippines, island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the List of islands of the Philippines, Philippine archipelago, it is the economic and political ce ...

is made from

coconut milk Coconut milk is a plant milk extracted from the grated pulp of mature coconuts. The opacity and rich taste of the milky-white liquid are due to its high oil content, most of which is saturated fat. Coconut milk is a traditional food ingred ...

simmered in a saucepan until it reduces to

coconut oil Coconut oil (or coconut fat) is an edible oil derived from the kernels, meat, and milk of the coconut palm fruit. Coconut oil is a white solid fat below around , and a clear thin liquid oil at higher temperatures. Unrefined varieties have a disti ...

and solids ("coconut curds") begin to form at the top surface. These solids are left to fry in the coconut oil until golden brown. In the Visayas, these solids are known as ''lunok'' in Cebuano; and ''balutai'' in Karay-a. ''Latík'' is commonly used as a topping for a variety of Philippine dishes including '' maja blanca'', ''

sapin-sapin Sapin-sapin is a layered glutinous rice and coconut dessert in Philippine cuisine. It is made from rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, water, flavoring, and coloring. It is usually sprinkled with latik or grated coconut among other toppings. The d ...

'', and ''

ube halaya ''Ube halaya'' or ''halayang ube'' (also spelled ''halea'', ''haleya''; ) is a Filipino cuisine, Filipino dessert made from boiled and mashed purple yam (''Dioscorea alata'', locally known as ''ube''). Ube halaya is the main base in ube/purple ...

''. It is sometimes mistaken for fried, caramelized coconut flesh- another type of garnishing/dessert known as '' bukayo'' in Bisaya.

References

{{portal bar, Food Foods containing coconut Dessert sauces Philippine condiments Philippine desserts

Visayan ''Latik''

Tagalog ''Latík''

See also

References