Kapeng Barako
Kapeng Barako is a variety of coffee grown in the Philippines, primarily in the provinces of Batangas and Cavite. It belong to the species Coffea liberica. Barako is the Filipino term for a male stud animal. The term has also become associated with the image of a tough man. During the lat 19th century, the Philippines was the world's 4th biggest exporter of coffee beans. Unfortunately the coffee rust that hit Brazil, Africa and Java also hit the country. Today, the Philippines ranks 110th in the world in terms of coffee production. The top producers are 1-Brazil, 2-Vietnam, and 3-Colombia and Mexico. The popularity of coffee as a drink has only increased year on and year on. A famous quote from Thomas Jefferson sums up its popularity---"coffee, the favourite drink of the civilised world."
On October 21, 2017, Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, through the advocacy of Batangas Forum for Good Governance and Development, Inc., launched the "Revival of the Kapeng Barako Industry in Batangas" in Pinagtongulan, Lipa City, where coffee was first planted in 1740 and through the efforts of Gobernadorcillo Galo de los Reyes who promoted the planting of coffee starting in Lipa, Batangas, the Philippines became the 4th producer of the world's coffee in 1880s (now ranks 110th). When the world's coffee plantations were devastated by coffee rust fungus disease, Lipa's plantations were spared from the disease for about 10 years, which made Lipa the world's coffee trading center. Lipa became the richest town in the Philippine. Queen Regent Maria Cristina of Spain awarded the title of Villa de Lipa in 1886. By 1889, Lipa's coffee plantations were also devastated by coffee rust and thus, ended Lipa's glorious economic era. Today, Batangas Forum, in collaboration with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist is drafting a Road Map for Kapeng Barako development in Batangas to be presented in the workshop being organized by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 4 for the coffee development road map for CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon)on August 21-22,2018. Any suggestions for the draft Road Map for Kapeng Barako development would be appreciated by Batangas Forum.Send suggestions to this Chair of the Batangss Forum Coffee Committee.
ReplyDeleteA question arises: Was the coffee variety grown in Lipa during the Spanish period(1740-1890)- Arabica or Liberia (Kapeng Barako)?
ReplyDeleteSome information that may help: Arabica coffee ideally grows at elevations 800 to 1,200 meters above sea level(masl). The elevation of Lipa and the surrounding towns where coffee has been grown, ranges ranges from 200 to 350 masl or higher in the mountains.I have one Arabica and three Liberia coffee trees(all now bearing coffee cherries)in Los Banos, Laguna (elevation about 85 masl.
Some reports state that the Americans introduced Liberia coffee starting in 1901 when they occupied the Philippines using planting materials procured from Indonesia, which earlier procured them from West Africa (probably, Liberia) to replace the coffee-rust devastated Arabica coffee during the early 1880s.By 1909, the Filipino Coffee Company was operating in Seattle, Washington, USA and selling "Batango" coffee (apparently Batangas Barako coffee.
The earliest recorded Liberica coffee herbarium (collection or preserved plant parts)is) was in 1874 in Liberia (Note that coffee was first planted in Lipa,Batangas, Las Islas Filipinas in 1740 with planting materials brought by the Augustinian fathers from Mexico.
Was the delayed devastation of coffee plantations in Lipa in 1889 versus 1880 in other parts of the world, due the resistance of Liberica coffee from coffee rust? Also note that Indonesia was able to procure Liberica coffee from Liberia to replace its devastated Arabica coffee.Any other information from anyone to resolve the issue?