Magic Water (Palamig)

Magic Water is a viral Filipino drink popularized by Binondo’s Aling Bebe. It’s refreshing and perfect for the summer season as a sweet, thirst-quenching drink!

Filipinos refer to this drink as palamig, which literally translates to the word “refreshment”.

It’s almost an essential part of every day life as Philippines is a hot and humid country all year round. Just an ice-cold glass of palming is enough to quench any thirst!

In a way, you can kind of think of it as similar to bubble tea. Most palamig contains mix-ins (usually jelly-like ingredients) that provide the drink with additional chew and texture, similar to boba pearls.

Summer is approaching and what better way to beat the summer heat than with a glass of ice cold water…or is it?

“Magic Water” went viral back in 2022, which was popularized by Aling Bebe’s refreshment stand in Binondo, Philippines. What looked like an icy, crisp pot of water actually contained clear gulaman (gelatin), mixed along ice with a hint of banana essence.

It became viral in part due to its affordability (5-10 Philippine pesos) and Aling Bebe’s determination to show up for her customer’s every day life in her Binondo corner. Since the 1980s, she’s been consistently helping to quench the thirst of so many Filipinos one magic water cup at a time.

What is Palamig?

Palamig is an umbrella term for the various types of sweet, chilled Filipino drinks that are typically consumed in especially hot days.

They almost always contain some sort of jelly-like ingredient, such as sago or tapioca pearls, nata de coco, coconut strips, and/or gulaman (gelatin).

The drink itself can also vary in terms of flavour. Some may be coconut-flavoured, others may taste like calamansi, melon, ube, or even pandan.

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This version of palamig is simply sweetened with sugar and requires a few drops of banana essence. I like to think of it as the sister to sago’t gulaman, which is essentially similar to Magic Water, though it uses brown sugar instead (making it darker in comparison).

Most palamig drinks are traditionally sold by street vendors in peak summer months, when the weather is at its most humid and hottest. It may also be offered in some restaurants.

Ingredients (and substitutions!)

Water: This drink is almost 90% water, hence the name.

Sugar: This will be used to sweeten our drink. For the traditional Magic Water, and to maintain its translucent appearance, use standard white sugar or any other colorless sweetener.

• Substitutions: You can use any other sweetener of your choice (e.g., brown sugar, honey, agave), just be sure it doesn’t have any overly-strong tastes (e.g., maple syrup) since we want to keep the drink light in flavor.

Banana Extract: If you’re unfamiliar with Filipino cuisine, this might come as a slight shock. Yes, banana extract exists, and it’s delicious in this drink.

You can purchase Filipino banana extract in most Filipino groceries or convenience stores. Other Western banana extracts may be easier to find, though they may have artificial colorings that can tint your palamig a slight yellow hue.

• Substitutions: If you’re not a fan of using banana extract or it isn’t accessible, you can substitute with vanilla extract. While it may not taste the same or be as traditional, I think it still tastes pretty good.

Gelatin: Also known as gulaman in Tagalog, the gelatin will give a textural element to the drink. You can buy the powdered gelatin in most grocery stores and follow the packaged instructions to prepare.

• Substitutions: You may replace gelatin with grass jelly or tapioca and/or sago pearls to add a similar chewy, textural element.

Instructions

Prepare the Clear Gulaman:

Begin by preparing the gulaman. Mix 1 pack (or 1 tbsp) of the gelatin mix with 1/2 cup of water. Stir, and let sit for 5 minutes.

In the meantime, combine together the white sugar and the remaining 1.5 cups of water in a sauce pot. Bring this mixture to a boil.

Once boiling, add in the reserved gelatin-water mixture. Stir immediately to prevent clumping and continue cooking on a low simmer for an additional 1-2 minutes until the gelatin has dissolved.

Pour the gelatin mixture into a heat-proof container. Cover, and let chill to set. Once firm, cut the gelatin into cubes and set aside.

Prepare the Magic Water:

To prepare the drink, combine together the water, white sugar, and banana extract. Stir vigorously to dissolve the sugar completely. Taste and adjust to your preference.

Add in the cubed gelatin and gently stir to combine.

To serve, add a hefty scoop of ice to your cup and pour in the magic water. Enjoy!

Tips

Keep the ice and Magic Water separate: To avoid dilution of flavors, keep the ice separate until ready to serve. For presentation sake, and to replicate how Aling Bebe serves it in her town, I mixed the ice directly into a punch bowl (you can do this if you’re planning to mass-serve the drink to your guests, such as during a potluck or house party).

Customize the drink to your preference: Feel free to adjust the amount of sugar and/or banana extract to make the drink taste how you would like. Substitutions are also available in the ingredient list above to make it more accessible!

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

How can I store leftovers?

Leftover Magic Water can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Any time longer, and the gelatine may begin to break down which can alter the overall texture.

How do I serve Palamig?

To serve, simply spoon the prepared drink into a tall glass and consume chilled. Drink on its own or with your favorite snack!

Looking for more tasty and refreshing recipes? Here’s a few you might enjoy:

• Halo Halo (Filipino Shaved Ice Dessert)
• Fresh Korean Strawberry Milk
• Buko Pandan