Provinces south of Manila long associated with Barako, the Philippines' Coffea liberica coffee.
Batangas and Cavite provinces, south of Manila, are the areas particularly associated with Barako (Coffea liberica). Lipa, Batangas was labeled the coffee capital of the Philippines, and Barako cultivation spread to Cavite in 1876. Barako is now considered endangered and is listed in the Slow Food Ark of Taste, partly because the trees can grow up to 20 m tall, making harvest difficult.
Field notes
- i
The first Liberica seedlings were planted in Amadeo, Cavite in 1876, and when rust hit Lipa in 1891 the remaining farmers gave up coffee.
- ii
Spanish friars first planted Barako in Batangas in the 18th century, according to Slow Food's Ark of Taste.
In the cup, according to guides
- AromaOften notedSlow Food's Ark of Taste entry describes Barako as strong in flavour with a distinctive pungent aroma.
Elsewhere in Philippines
Sources · 3 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-11-11. Some details here are less settled than others.
- Barako — Wikipedia · Wikipedia
- Philippine Coffee · Philippine Coffee Board
- Caffe Barako (Ark of Taste) · Slow Food Foundation