HISTORY OF KAPENG BARAKO

Barako coffee was introduced to the Philippines in the 1740s by Spanish friars. It was
originally planted in the lowlands of Lipa, Batangas. From there it spread to other areas
in the province, and Batangas became known for its coffee locally. Barako was also
historically exported from the 1860s onwards to San Francisco in the United States and
to parts of Europe, commanding prices of five times the prices of other Asian coffee
beans. In 1876, barako cultivation spread to the neighboring province of Cavite.[3]
The Philippines became one of the top four producers of coffee in the world in the
1880s, after coffee rust devastated plantations worldwide. However, in 1889, the coffee
industry in the Philippines also collapsed after coffee rust spread to the islands. This
caused most farmers to shift to other crops. Only a few barako seedlings survived, most
of which were now in Cavite. In the mid-20th century, coffee demand once again
surged, but barako didn't make a comeback because of the difficulty of cultivating it in
comparison to other coffee varieties. Instead the new surge in coffee production
focused on coffee rust-resistant cultivars imported from the United States.
Kapeng barako also known as Barako coffee or Batangas coffee, is a coffee
varietal grown in the Philippines, particularly in the provinces of Batangas and Cavite. It
belongs to the species Coffea liberica. The term is also used to refer to all coffee
coming from those provinces. Barako in the languages of the Philippines means "stud",
and is associated with the image of masculinity. Barako has a strong flavor and
fragrance reminiscent of aniseed.
Barako trees are some of the largest commercially cultivated coffee trees, which make
them more difficult to grow. They are considered endangered due to low production and
demand.