Coffee in the Philippines

Coffee in the Philippines

A bit of History

Coffee was brought in the Philippines centuries ago by the Spaniards while the country was a colony. They planted coffee trees on the highlands. And because of good combination of humidity, cold, soil and the tropical climate, these plantation flourished. By the 19th century, the Philippines was the 4th largest coffee producing country in the world.

Coffee has three varieties, Arabica, Robusta and Liberica, or “Barako” as known in the Philippines.

Batangas Coffee, “Barako”

Barako coffee is the Philippine term for coffee produced in Batangas. This Philippine coffee is of the Liberica variety. Liberica is rare and exotic, grown only in 3 countries out of about 70 coffee producing countries in the world. The first Barako tree was a a cutting from Brazil planted in the 1800s in Barangay Pinagtung-Ulan, Batangas. Barako coffee has strong taste, flavor, and has a distinctively pungent aroma. All coffee grown in Batangas is generically called Barako.

Bukidnon Coffee, “Mirayon”

I have known coffee since my boyhood days. My first introduction to marketing was selling coffee to a Chinese store in our barrio every time I need some funds. Robusta coffee thrives well in the province of Bukidnon, but the best quality is “Mirayon Coffee”, better known as Bourbon and Cattimore Arabica.

Benguet Coffee

The Mountain Provinces in northern Luzon also produces coffee. Benguet Coffee is of the Arabica variety.