150 POLYNESIAN COFFEES. 



Fhillipine Coffees. Opinions differ as to whether 

 the coffee plant is indigenous to the Fhillipine Islands or 

 only exotic there, some authorities declaring that it was 

 first brought there by Spanish priests from the Malay. 

 Others again claiming that the plant was found in 

 a wild state in the island of Luzon prior to its 

 introduction, but that the natives, being ignorant of its 

 properties, allowed the fruit to decay on the trees. Be 

 this as it may, coffee thrives there remarkably well, the 

 product possessing a peculiarly rich flavor, for which 

 it is highly esteemed on the continent of Europe, and, 

 although it is by no means well prepared or uniform, the 

 worst grades bring a higher price there than the Java 

 growths, the value on the spot exceeding the current 

 rates for the latter in the foreign markets, and is gener- 

 ally classed as " Luzon," " Manilla" and " Zamboango," 

 from the ports of shipment. 



Luzon Is a small-bean variety, hard and flinty in 

 texture, rich and aromatic in the infusion, but poorly or 

 indifferently cleaned or prepared, for which causes it is 

 not as well appreciated as it deserves. 



Manilla Is principally produced on the islands of 

 Indan, Laguna, Batangas and Cavite, its price on the spot 

 varying from twenty to twenty-two dollars per picul. 

 The bean is medium in size, regular in form, and pale- 

 green in color, perfect in roast and aromatic in flavor. 



Zamboango Comes chiefly from Mindano and the 

 southern islands generally. The bean is much larger 

 than that of Manilla, yellowish-white in color, but some- 

 what flabby in texture, and containing much extraneous 

 matter, being poorly prepared, while the liquor is thin, 

 flat and apt to be wild or " grassy " in flavor. 



