Philippine Finca De Garces Ethiopian Landrace Honey

Ethiopian genetics. Bukidnon terroir.

Most Philippine coffee is Catimor. It handles disease pressure, yields well, and has anchored the country's specialty industry for years. But Finca de Garces also grows something rarer: Ethiopian Landrace varieties, heirloom genetics descended from the trees that built Ethiopia's reputation for complex, aromatic filter coffees.

The Farm

Finca de Garces sits at 1,400 meters in the highlands of Bukidnon — a multi-generational family farm stewarded by the Garces family. Volcanic soils and cool mountain air slow cherry maturation at this elevation, concentrating sugars and building the complex sweetness that is making Bukidnon one of the Philippines' most promising coffee regions.

Most Philippine coffee is Catimor - it handles local disease pressure and yields well. But Finca de Garces also grows Ethiopian Landrace varieties: heirloom genetics descended from the varietals that built Ethiopia's reputation for complex, aromatic filter coffees. These trees produce smaller yields but offer a lighter, more delicate flavor architecture - closer to Yirgacheffe than to a traditional Philippine cup.

Honey-processed here, the result is layered: honey sweetness from the mucilage, orange from the varietal's natural acidity, chamomile aromatics from the elevation, grape notes tying it together. Clean, lifted, and unmistakably Ethiopian in character - grown entirely in the Philippines.

The Cup

These trees produce smaller harvests. They demand more attention. They reward both with a flavor architecture that feels closer to Yirgacheffe than to a traditional Philippine cup. Lighter. More delicate. Floral in a way Catimor never quite reaches.

At 1,400 meters in the Bukidnon highlands, processed honey-style with the mucilage left intact during drying, this lot lays out the full case for what Finca de Garces' Ethiopian work can be.

Honey sweetness from the mucilage. Orange acidity from the varietal's natural brightness. Chamomile aromatics rising from the elevation. Grape notes tying everything together at the finish. Clean, lifted, unmistakably Ethiopian in character, and grown entirely in the Philippines.

Tasting Notes

• Simple: Honey, orange, chamomile, grape
• Descriptive: Honeyed sweetness with bright orange acidity, soft chamomile florals, and a grape-skin finish
• Technical: Citric acidity layered with monosaccharide sweetness from the mucilage, ester-driven floral aromatics, and a lifted vinous finish typical of Ethiopian Landrace