In Tagalog, lye water is commonly called lihiya or lehiyá. It refers to a strong alkaline solution used in cooking and cleaning, especially in Filipino kakanin like kutsinta, pichi-pichi, and suman sa lihiya.

Common usage

  • Lihiya / lehiyá : the usual Tagalog term for lye water.
  • It is used as a food additive in some Filipino dishes and desserts.
  • It can also be described as a strong alkaline solution used for washing or cleaning.

Example

  • Suman sa lihiya means suman made with lye water.

Note

Some sources mention other phrases, but lihiya is the most common and widely recognized Tagalog term.