I’m not the only one getting pampered with a morning supply of fresh coconut.

At my sister’s house in Angono, the coconut vendor comes around.

Coco vendor

He chooses a coconut based on what you want. The amount and sweetness of the water and the thickness and texture of the meat depends on the maturity of the coconut. My brother-in-law prefers coconut water that’s slightly sweet with meat that is “mala-uhog” - literally translated “like-snot.”

Coconut choice

He cracks it open and collects the water into a plastic bag.

Cracks open coconut

Then, he completely slice it open and shaves off the meat.

The meat goes into the same bag, gets tied off and my brother-in-law takes it back into the house, to be transferred to a container and sugar added to it.

I prefer mine without sugar.