The alcohol industry in the Philippines

Title

Creator

Gross, E.M.

Language

English

Source

The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume 6 (Issue No.10) October 1926

Year

1926

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

October, 192G THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 19 The Alcohol Industry in the Philippines Native Beverages: Progress in the Licensed Trade By E. M. Gross, Chemist From the earliest times the people of the Philippines have been moderately ad dicted to the use of intoxicating: bever ages, and we find throughout the his tory of the Spanish occupation referen ces to its influences. A document dated 1571 from Mirandaola to the king of Spain reports, that the natives “have wines of many kinds: brandy, made from palm wine, obtained from the coconut palm, and from the wild nipa palm pitarillos, which are the wines made from rice, and borona, and other wines made from sugar cane.” In 1762, Governor Simon de Anda ordered the governor of Guagua, to forbid the sale of nipa-wines and destroy all found in the taverns. In 1S37, Blanco writes of the in jurious effects of the native wanes. Mono polies of the distilled spirits industries were common under the Spanish rule. The art of distillation seems to have been taught the natives by the Chinese, and the method that of potstills, a crude process followed to this day by illicit stills. “In 1862, the alcohol monopoly was done away with. Two years later, the trade and manufac ture of all kinds of alcohol was decaired free.” Several large modern distillery plants were established by Spaniards and alcohol was distilled* mainly from nipa and coconut palm sap. Rectification of the crude spirit was carried to a fairly efficient point. The American authorities found the fol lowing intoxicating beverages in general use throughout the islands upon their ar rival in 1898: Tuba: made from the sap of the various palm threes, coconut, nipa buri palm, and cabo negro. Basi: made from cane juice. Tapuy: made from rice. In the Visayas group, Tayabas and La guna provinces, tuba predominated; to this beverage the people add cascalote the bark, of camachili, to overcome the strongly ca thartic effects of the palm juice. Basi was being manufactured in the sugar producing regions, while tapuy was in vogue amongst the mountain tribes, where no other prime material was avail able but rice. Incidentally we might men tion that tapuy is the most economical in toxicant in the world, where lasting effect for little expenditure is sought for, as a glass of it drunk at night, followed by a glass of water in the morning, will keep the partaker of it drunk for a week, so for the thrifty it can’t be beaten. In and around Manila were located the modern stills. They produced rectified Al cohol from which were manufactured imi tations of European beverages, mostly: Tinto (claret wine) gitiebra (gin), anisado (Spanish /Inis Cordial; the sweetening, however, was mostly saccharine instead of sugar). Practically all of the alcohol was produced from nipa sap, and some from ccconut sap. The industry was flourish ing and increased year by year. In 1910 about 68 recognized distilleries were in ope ration the islands, along with many illicit stills. In 1920, the establishment of modern sugar mills and their production of large quantities of molasses called the attention of the various distillers to this more econo mical prime material for alcohol produc tion. The art was new and difficulties arose as to the rapid fermentation of the Travel Across America via Glacier National Park The Oriental Limited In an observation car where wider, higher windows permit an unobstructed view of the scenic grandeur visible from the car windows as the train passes along the southern boundary of the Park for over 60 miles. The Oriental Limited is Ths Finest Train Between Seattle and Chicago A de luxe train. No extra fare. Hauled by giant oil-burning locomotives, assuring freedom from soot and cinders. Across America to Chicago in 69 hours and 55 minutes. Convenient connection at Chicago for Eastern points. Get our folder "Through the U. S A. via Seattle Gateway,” with its wealth of maps and information. A. G. HENDERSON. AGENT. Chaco Building o R AMERICAN EXPRESS CO. Manila, P. 1. Great Northern A Dependable Railuiau molasses; about three to four days wei$ required to complete the change from invert-sugar into alcohol; the process often miscarried and acid fermentation resulted, or at best the alcohol yield was small. The services of the chemists from the bureau of science weie called upon. They, along with private chemists, finally perfected a formula whereby favorable results were obtained. The process at present consists in mixing molasses with water until the mixture resulting is seven degress Brix. To 20,000 liters of such a mixture, 18 to 20 titers of commercial sulphuric acid is ad ded, the whole thoroughly stirred, and then about 15 to 20 kilos of ammonium sulphate are scattered over the mixture, which is IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 20 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL October, 1926 then let stand. Fermentation commences in about 12 hours and is complete in about 24 to 36 hours. Maximum results have, so far, been obtained from this procedure. Some distilleries make such new mixtures with each batch; others practice inocula tion by adding ten per cent of a ferment in full action to a new mixture. The latter process has economy on its side. The general result is five gallons of spirit from an equal quantity of molasses; with efficient operation the cost of a gal lon of 94 per cen spirit is about P0.17. After all of the available alcohol is re covered by distillation, some of the distil leries continue the distilling process at a higher temperature and recover the fusel oil left in the lees. This material finds a very important use as a solvent for cel lulose and is in great demand in varnish and celluloid factories. The rest of the liquor is at present thrown away, locally; but in Europe the distillation process is continued and the nitrogen present is re covered in the form of an ammonia, later used as a base for the manufacture of am monium sulphate, in great demand as a fertilizer. Approximately 75 per cent of the alcohol produced is consumed locally as beverages; 25 per cent is exported, at present to China, or made into denatured alcohol and fuel alcohol. The latter is mixed according to the Foster process and consists of a mix ture composed of 20 parts sulphuric ether, 80 parts rectified alcohol (96%), 5 parts kerosene oil and % part aniline oil or pyri dine. The object of the aniline or pyridine is to neutralize the acetic acids and alde hydes formed on explosion of the fuel, to prevent pitting of the engine pistons and cylinders. As a tractor fuel and for sta tionary, internal combustion engines, this fuel has given fail' satisfaction. As a fuel for automobiles it still leaves a great deal to be desired. The gasoline alchemist’s dream is still to come,. as far as alcohol for a motive fuel is concerned. Internal revenue statistics may be of in terest, so we copy them: 1923 I 1924 Proof I Proof Liters ] Liters 8,932,246 f 1,667,102 91,793 912,260 2,323,606 2,224 Taxpaid .................... Sold to U. S. Army and Navy ............ Denatured Alcohol.. Motive Power Al cohol ..................... Fusel Oil Recovered. 1925f 12,202,372 2,770,333 171,934 1,164.412 10,303,984 1,797,048 111,968 1.387,654 3,097,456 23,529 Total 13,829,231 16,721,639 Increase .......................................................... 3,249,437 Percent of Increase .................................... 19.43 Distilled Spirits Removed for Domestic Consumtion as Beverages Domestic ManufacImported ........ ......... Total ............ Increase ................ Per cent ................ Per capita .......... 8,932,246 I 10,303.984 | 12,202,372 861,768 346,138 | 402,561 9,294,014 | 10,650,122 | 12.604,933 I 1,366,108 I 1,954,811 Raw material used; Liters Nipa sap ................ Molasses ................... Cane Sugar ............ 36,327.704 | 18.193,014 | 19,615,514 5.332,576 I 6,648.522 I 7,673,192 12,917,547 | 21,443,946 | 38,261,160 2,380,762 | 624,471 | 771 4,577 | 3,331 ] 5,240 NOTE:—A proof liter of alcohol is a mixture containiutl oj absolute alcohol ami 50</r, of water. MORE ABOUT TARHATA More news from Jolo since the Septem ber Journal was published contains curios details on the conduct of Princess Tarhata Kiram, who was a student in the Univer sity of Chicago at the time Mrs. Carmen Aguinaldo Melencio, daughter of General EmJilio Aguinaldo, was there. Tarhata re turned to Manila a very modem girl, with bobbed hair and liberal ideas. But it was very dull resuming life in Jolo: there were no sorority dances, no moonlit lake yacht ing trips, no motoring parties of young people. Yet there were the tribg and tri bal traditions. These, it seems, have claim ed Tarhata. She no longer bobs her hair; she has acquired again a taste for buyo; and, displacing a fourth wife, she lives with Datu Tahil, third member of the Jolo prov incial board. This relationship she is maintaining is contrary to Moro law, limit ing legitimate wives to four, for the fourth wife, it is said, had not been divorced nor obtained divorce when the relationship began; and even yet there has been no de cree of divorce. Thus the daughter of the East, doffing western culture, has returned to the East with a vengeance. She suffers more or less ostracism because of her quaint con duct. An elder niece of Sultan Hamid Hamilul Kiram remains his favorite. She is Putri Dayang-Dayang Kiram, much older than Tarhata, comfortably stout and uneducated. She occupies the town resid ence of the sultan. Princess Radda Kiram, formerly a student in the Philippine Wo men’s College in Manila and also older than Tarhata, has returned to her people in Ynchausti Rope Factory Manufacturers of high grade Manila Ropes Contractors to the U. S. Army and Navy and the Philippine Islands Government (Complete stocks carried by Messrs. Guy T. Slaughter & Co., of 210 Cali fornia Street, San Francisco, Cal.) Prices and Samples Mailed on Request Ynchausti y Cia. 945 M. de la Industria cTWanila, P. I. Do you own a This Tank Water Heater will pro vide plenty of hot water for kitchen and bath. It’s cost is low. The consumption very moderate. ♦ Manila Gas Corporation DISPLAY ROOM: MAIN OFFICE: No. 7 Calle David Calle Otis, Paco Tel. 443 Tel. 289 IN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS PLEASE MENTION THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL

pages

19-20

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