'Snake wine,' anyone? Exotic drink intrigues tourists in La Trinidad

Have you heard of "snake wine" being sold in La-Trinidad, Benguet?

Seeing a dead snake inside a bottle of wine might make your skin crawl, but some tourists have been intrigued to try the exotic drink.

In Darlene Cay's report on "24 Oras," a local shopkeeper claimed that "snake wine," which cost P1,500-P10,000 per bottle, is believed to have medicinal qualities.

"Para sa mga lalaking gustong magkaanak. Tapos 'yung snake wine kasi puwede sa may malamig sa katawan, matatanggal siya. Arthritis, parang gano'n."

The report, however, clarified that these so-called health benefits of "snake wine" were not clinically proven.

"Wala pa, hindi naka-register sa atin 'yan," Usec. Eric Domingo, director of the Food and Drug Administration, explained.

"So kung ibinebenta siya commercially, kailangan magpunta siya sa FDA at pa-rehistro ang produckto nila para ma-test natin saka matinganan natin kung ano 'yung kanyang content."

Health benefits or no health benefits, some people were brave enough to take a sip, including GMA's Cay. 

Would you try a shot of "snake wine?" — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News