Juan’s Kakanin

Juan Kakanin is a local food shop that serves varieties of native Filipino delicacies, or locally called “kakanin”, and brewed coffee, or better known as “kapeng barako”. The shop emphasizes the uniqueness and the rich culture of the Filipinos in terms of root crops and plants that are seen within the country. We aim to bring these products near the city, which people can easily find and buy. Since there are lots of pastry and coffee shops around, the shop is unique among them because we serve the most mouthwatering sweet delicacy of every Filipino has ever tasted. Juan’s Kakanin listed the ten well-known “kakanin” in the different regions of the country. The list includes Bibingka, Cassava Cake, Biko, Palitaw, Suman or “Ibus”, Kutsinta, Baye-baye, Bitsu-bitsu, Sapin-sapin, and Inday-inday. This food selection is a perfect match for kapeng barako because of its contradicting taste, a sweet dessert plus a relaxing aroma, and strong taste from coffee.

The vision of the business is to give the customers high quality products, cater their needs, and give them satisfaction. On the other hand, the mission is to preserve the Philippine tradition and native delicacies.

Juan’s Kakanin shall take every individuals meryenda experience to an elegant and cozy environment while enjoying their snack.

 

Kapeng Barako: Origin and Benefits

By: Shiela Lyn Gallardo

Kapeng barako has its great aroma and perfect match with the native delicacies that Juan’s Kakanin offers.

Origin

Kapeng Barako also spelled Barco (Barako Coffee in English) is a coffee varietal grown in the Philippines, particularly in the provinces of Batangas and Cavite. It belongs to the species of Coffea Liberica. The term is also used to refer to all coffee coming from those provinces. Barako is Filipino term for a male stud of an animal, and has become associated with image of a tough man. Barako assumingly takes the term given to a wild boar, which is used to find the fruits of the coffee tree scrumptious snacking fare. The reason, maybe, that our local coffee is called barako is that it is strong, pungent, and well liked by wild boar.

History

Philippines had become the world’s sole supplier of coffee. More specifically, the town of Lipa in Batangas was supplying the world with coffee. Batangas had gained the title “Coffee Capital” of the Philippines and coffee production was going strong. The Macasaet family first grew Kapeng barako in the 1800s in Barangay Pinagtung-Ulan, Batangas. It gained so much of a reputation that all types of coffee from Batangas are generically called “Barako” even if they are one of the other types. It is, by association, the definition of Batangas Coffee.

The popularity of the kapeng barako traces its roots way back in the 1800s, when the Philippine coffee beans shipped to America and Europe commanded five times the price compared to other varieties from Asia.

There are varieties of coffee that are commercialized namely Arabica, Robusta, Excelsa and Liberica. Coffea arabica, known as Arabica coffee, which is self-pollinating, accounts for 75-80 percent of the world’s production. Coffea canephora, known as Robusta coffee depends on cross-pollination and accounts for about 20 percent and differs from the Arabica coffees in terms of taste and are yield seeds that form a lower quality coffee. Coffea Liberica is much rarer than the other two and is known to be indigenous in only three Asian countries. This type of coffee has a strong flavor and a distinct aroma. It also produces larger “beans” and it is very productive. These qualities are the reasons why the Philippine varietal of Liberica is called “Kapeng Barako. Coffea Excelsa resists to the diseases and dryness. It has a high yield and its aged beans give a coffee with odorous and pleasant taste, similar to the one of Coffea Arabica.

Health Benefit

Kapeng Barako can affect the body resistance. The coffee is a kind of drink that brewed and gives energy because of the effect of caffeine, the caffeine will affect the body depends on how it prepared.  Kapeng Barako is also used as a body scrub in spa treatment. The coffee is the best antioxidants besides on giving us energy, it lessens the chance to risk having heart decease and Alzheimer.