The Next thing to know when visiting a place aside from places to stay is the unique products we can buy for “pasalubong” or as a remembrance to ourselves. If you happen to be the first time in the Province of Batangas surely this list is a must-read before leaving.
Batangas is one of the most popular tourist destinations near Metro Manila. The province has many beaches and is famous for excellent diving spots including Anilao in Mabini, Sombrero Island in Tingloy, Ligpo Island in Bauan, these areas are more popularly known as Anilao. Matabungkay in Lian, Punta Fuego in Nasugbu, Calatagan and Laiya in San Juan.
Batangas is also where Taal Volcano, one of the Decade Volcanoes is located. It is also where the Taal Heritage town lies, a small picturesque town that has ancestral houses and structures dating back to the 19th century.
Batangas has a lot of beaches and resorts. It is not only a popular summer destination in the Philippines, but it is also home to uniquely popular products which are among the province’s pride.
1. Kapeng Barako
Batangas is known as Kapeng Barako capital of the Philippines. The Kapeng Barako is a popular pasalubong when visiting the province. A lot of places sells Kapeng Barako and one of the reason is that Batanguenos are coffee drinkers.
Kapeng Barako has many uses instead of just drinking it hot. Some Spa uses it as a body scrub mixed with sugar and oil to make that exfoliating a bittersweet experience. Well, positive bittersweet.
If your refrigerator has mixed smells and odors. You can try to put a bag of Kapeng Barako in a bowl and put it inside for minutes. it’s an instant deodorizer! try it.
Batangas Province is known to have strong coffee. Batanguenos call it Kapeng Barako.
“Imagine taking in the beautiful countryside scenery and feeling the cool Lipa breeze while you sip Barako coffee on the terrace of your beautiful home. Diamond Heights Lipa is a modern countryside community situated near the heart of Lipa City with homes that are designed for Modern Filipino family in mind and feature a Modern-Contemporary Filipino design.”
Diamond Heights Lipa City
2. Honey
One of the uniqueness of Batangas is its cold weather especially in high places like Lipa City Batangas. Honey Bees like to stay at a cold temperature and that is why Honey is plenty at Batangas.
When looking for Pure and Authentic honey you can always find it in Lipa City where there are plenty of bee breeders. Breeders of bees are so passionate about what they produce and if you are looking for a wide variety of honey, Visit Honey Bee Stores before leaving.
One of the most popular destination stores of pure honey is the Queen’s Honey Bee Farm located at Bulacnin Lipa City.
3. Balisong
Batangas is known for this Unique knife where you can fold and hide inside your pocket safely. Philippine movies always feature this signature knife of Taal Batangas. They even highlight tricks in opening, closing, or maneuvering Balisong.
You can have this Balisong in many shapes and sizes. Some are small as little as a nail cutter and some are the size of samurai.
If you have been to Batangas this is a must-have remembrance. Feel more Batangueno than ever before.
4. Sumang Magkayakap
Two pieces of scrumptious suman are wrapped in an embrace, hence the name, “sumang magkayakap.” They’re an earthy, sticky, semi-sweet, sticky rice kakanin that comes with toasted desiccated coconut and a thick, rich coco sugar sauce.
Tanauan City actually holds a Sumang magkayakap festival every March 10. Suman recipes compete at this festival and the winner’s gained reputation lets them distribute their suman everywhere in Batangas. Hence, when you’re buying sumang magkayakap from a distributor, it’s most likely, literally, a winner. Typically you can only get them in the morning because they run out FAST!
5. Tapang Taal
Aside from Kapeng Barako. Tapang Taal is one of the most popular products and it is a must-try when you visit Taal Batangas.
The best thing about having a delicacy or a dish that became a best-seller is the opportunity for the locals to have it as their own livelihood. There are lots of Taal locals selling this tapa and eventually, they have been gaining frequent patrons from other neighboring towns and even from other provinces.
Usually, when you hear the word tapa, you would think of beef. But in Taal, their tapa is pork marinated in soy sauce with garlic and calamansi. It’s best paired with fried rice and kapeng barako. Have it dipped in vinegar with onions and chilies. Awesome flavors that stay in your tongue. It is a must-try. Only in Batangas.
6. Lambanog
Lambanog is said to be The Poor Man’s Drink, Local Coconut Farmer’s Gift to the Alcohol Industry. Coconut trees grow in abundance in the town of San Juan Batangas. That is why lambanog (coconut wine or coconut vodka) is among San Juan’s top three products.
Every afternoon, the mangangarit (the one who climb the trees to get the sap) would attach bamboo receptacles to the coconut flowers on which the sap would drip. The following morning, the mangangarit would climb the tree again to collect the bamboo receptacles with the coconut sap.
The collected sap would undergo fermentation to produce Tuba. When Tuba undergoes distillation, Lambanog will be produced. Lambanog has an alcohol content of 80-90% proof.
Lambanog has various flavors available in the market. Drop by the San Juan Pasalubong Center in Brgy. Maraykit for a bottle of Lambanog and other delicacies you can take home.
7. Bagoong Balayan
Bagoong is a fermented anchovy sauce used as a dip or a saline ingredient for Pinoy dishes. The name says it all. And Balayan is where the bagoong industry boomed.
The town of Balayan is best known for parada ng lechon and its product, Bagoong Balayan or anchovy sauce. Bagoong Balayan or anchovy sauce is indeed a growing industry in the town. Right now, there are many backyard producers of anchovy sauce, making it a profitable business in the area.
8. Atsarang Calaca
Atchara or atsara is an appetizer famously produced in the town of Calaca. Achara or pickled green papaya mixed with carrots, onions, red bell pepper, and raisins. Being the large producer of atchara, Calaca celebrates its popular produce through its Calacatsara Festival.
9. Panutsa
For those who love sweets, this delicacy is a must-buy. Known as the province’s own version of peanut brittle, panutsa is made of caramelized brown sugar and whole peanuts. You can easily purchase this flat disc-shaped snack for it is available in all pasalubong centers and bus terminals in Batangas.
10. Lomi
Yes, Loming Batangas is one of the best and a must-try. Never leave Batangas until you try Lomi.
Lomi is a Chinese-inspired noodle soup that is thick, hearty, and generously topped. It’s also got a delicious combination of side condiments which Batanguenos will insist you mix together and pour right on top. Not only that, but they will also insist you eat it immediately, while it’s piping hot because if you leave it to cool, it will lose its wonderful thick consistency.
Originally from Batangas, pancit lomi is usually sold in eateries across the province. With the mobility of the Filipinos; however, other people got wind of pancit lomi and now you will see different Lomian (eateries with just lomi) whipping up their own pancit lomi, panciterias (eateries specializing in pancit) adding it to their menu.
Lomi is very popular in Batangas and you can see them everywhere and it is a pleasure to eat especially when it is cold and raining.
Diamond Heights Lipa!
“Imagine taking in the beautiful countryside scenery and feeling the cool Lipa breeze while you sip Barako Coffee on the terrace of your beautiful home and then going on a short drive to the shop to get what you need for that delicious al fresco lunch you’ve been planning for your family. Diamond Heights Subdivision is a more countryside community situated near the heart of Lipa City with homes that are designed with the Modern Filipino family in mind and feature a Contemporary Filipino design aesthetic, ample natural lighting, and most importantly, natural ventilation.”
Diamond Heights Lipa is now preparing for the next big project. The Diamond Heights Lipa Phase 2. Get the latest updates thru email. We will announce the opening for clients soon!
