The Geopolitics of Philippine Coffee: Terroir in the Cordilleras
Why single-origin Arabica from Atok, Benguet and Liberica from Lipa, Batangas are commanding record prices at auction in Tokyo and Zurich.
Antonio Valdez
The Geopolitics of Philippine Coffee: Terroir in the Cordilleras
In the misty, pine-forested slopes of Atok, Benguet, 1,600 meters above sea level, coffee cherries ripen slowly under cool mountain fog. This unique microclimate produces coffee with notes of wild blackberry, dark cacao, and lemongrass — a flavor profile that recently earned a micro-lot from the Benguet Farmers Cooperative the highest score at the Specialty Coffee Association Asia Expo.
The Philippines is one of the few nations on Earth capable of cultivating all four major commercial coffee species: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica (*Barako*), and Excelsa. As specialty roasters worldwide seek climate-resilient and biodiverse coffee origin stories, Philippine single-origin coffees are securing high-value export contracts.
Reader Discussion
J. Bautista
This is the kind of reporting I wish more Philippine outlets did.
Antonio Valdez
Investigating regional foodways, heirloom ingredients, and high-table gastronomy across the Philippine archipelago.
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