“I am proud to call this my home”
Raised on Filipino Flavours
I’ll just say it now - I was never going to be the skinny kid growing up. Not in a Filipino household. Food was always around, always being cooked, and somehow there was always room for more. So yes, that photo? I’m Kyle - the cute chubby one on the left - and I fully blame Filipino cuisine. No complaints though.
I was born and raised in the Philippines and lived there for 19 years. And before you ask - yes, I know, I don’t exactly look Filipino. I’m actually Scottish and Indian. But culturally? That’s home. It’s how I grew up, how I celebrate, and definitely how I eat.
Food was always at the centre of everything. Any occasion meant gathering around a table, plates being passed around, and someone always telling you to eat more - even when you physically couldn’t.
But when I turned 18, those same moments started to feel a bit different.
It wasn’t just about the food anymore. I was being introduced to the drinks that came with it — the bottles brought out during celebrations, the flavours I hadn’t really paid attention to before. It opened up a whole new side of the culture I grew up in.
This Didn’t Add Up
When I moved to the UK, I started to notice something…
When you think about Asian cuisine here, you probably think of Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean… but how often does Filipino cuisine make that list? And even when it does, it’s only a glimpse - not the full experience I grew up with.
Because Filipino cuisine isn’t just about the food. It’s about how everything comes together - the dishes, the drinks, the conversations, the celebrations.
That’s when it clicked for me.
For a country filled with so much flavour and warmth, the Philippines is still just beginning to find its place here. Even Gordon Ramsay called it “the sleeping beauty of Asian cuisine.” And while we’re starting to see more of it in the UK, there’s so much more to explore and share.
And this is about more than just flavours.
It’s about reconnecting Filipino families in the UK with the tastes of home - food, drinks, and everything in between - while inviting others to experience it properly for the first time.
Because if you ask me… this is something worth sharing.
Rediscovering Home
Starting this journey gave me something I didn’t expect - the chance to rediscover the Philippines.
Living in the UK made me realise I definitely took it for granted. Now, every time I go back home to visit family, I make it a point to see and experience as much of the country as I can - not just the places, but the flavours, the people, and everything that makes it what it is.
And for me, it wasn’t just the food and drinks (although, let’s be honest, that’s a big part of it). It was the culture, and the exotic fruits and vegetables - the kind you don’t really find anywhere else. Ube, Calamansi, Dalandan… bold, vibrant, completely unique. That’s what makes the Philippines truly special.
But then came the real question…
How on earth was I going to bring all of that to the UK - to people who might not know anything about it?
Well… I thought about it.
And the answer felt pretty obvious. Alcohol.
And just in case you were wondering - yes, that’s Apo Whang-Od on the left. A true legend, and over 100 years old.
New Era of Drinking
We’re stepping into a new generation of drinking - one where people are making more conscious choices. It’s not just about how much you drink anymore, but what you’re drinking. Lower ABV, better ingredients, and drinks that actually have a story behind them. And that’s exactly where we come in.
Our focus is simple - liqueurs made with real exotic fruits and vegetables from the Philippines. Not artificial flavours, not watered-down versions, but something that stays true to where it comes from.
Because at the end of the day, a drink is just a drink… until it means something. And these liqueurs carry more than flavour - they carry heritage, culture, and stories from back home.
Our aim is to bring that into every glass. A taste of the tropical islands that you can experience anywhere - at home, at an event, or even in your local pub.
And for me, this is more than just a business. I’m proud that this is something I get to build - helping establish Philippine flavours in the UK and sharing something I truly believe in. And honestly, I’m just excited to see where this journey takes me.
