Coffea Liberica, the species that conquered Southeast Asia
The coffee industry is quite broad. Proof of this is that there are around 120 varieties of coffee and that most consumers of this exquisite drink do not know. Since they are only familiar with the Arabica and Robusta varieties. However, today we want to talk about Liberica coffee, which is making its way commercially and delighting more than one demanding palate.
This variety, which is grown in Southeast Asia. Currently, it is the main species of the coffea genus most common in countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Since, in it they have discovered an interesting agronomic potential.
If you are a producer, barista, roaster or consumer, and to date you have never heard of Liberica coffee. Don't worry, you are in the right place. Well, in this article we will take care of offering you all the necessary information about this species, from its origins and what is making it so popular.
Learn about the origins of Liberica
The first thing you should know is that Liberica coffee comes from West Africa, specifically Liberia. place of humid and semi-arid lands. Although its roots are on that side of the planet, it is currently harvested and consumed in Southwest Asia. As we highlighted above, in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. In the latter, Liberica represents 70% of all the coffee grown there.
Pacita Juan, member of the Steering Committee of the Forest and Farm Facility of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. He explained that the trajectory of Liberica coffee went from its place of origin to Ethiopia, from where it left for the Middle East, until finally spreading throughout Southeast Asia.
It also details that European settlers (French, Dutch and Spanish) after arriving and settling in Southeast Asia, brought some Liberica plants. Something that completely changed the way coffee is consumed throughout this region.
Although many producers decided to switch to Robusta, at that time there was interest among Filipino coffee growers to plant Liberica coffea. But what motivated them? It turns out that this species is resistant to rust (a fungus that causes a disease in most coffee plants) and at the same time, it is much easier to grow at high and low temperatures than Arabica. Another point in its favor is that pests cannot easily penetrate the Liberica cherries, since they are quite firm.
The spread of this species from the Philippines to other Southeast Asian countries was not complicated at all. Because, it's only a boat ride away. Well, coffee and spices are the only ones that can move from one place to another without the need to use large boats.
Unknown facts about Liberica coffee
Currently, Liberica is growing wild throughout tropical Africa, as noted Gonzalo Hernandez manager and owner of Diverse coffee, a 'coffee garden', where approximately 700 botanical varieties of coffee trees are planted. At the same time, it expresses that it is a very resistant plant.
This species is capable of producing cherries even five years after being planted. The bushes are quite tall, as they are capable of reaching 17 meters, something that could make harvesting the fruits a little difficult.
Something that differentiates Coffea Liberica from Arabica and Robusta is that its leaves and cherries are larger. An interesting fact regarding its leaves is that they can grow up to 30 centimeters wide, while cherries are twice the size than the rest when they reach maturity.
How is its flavor?
As for pulp and parchment, in Liberica it is approximately 60:40, in the case of Arabica and Robusta it is 40:60. This could affect the drying of cherries of that species, as well as the flavor. The reasons for this are that this variety has a lot of pulp and is fermented when dried naturally, therefore, it provides a drink with fruity notes.
Normally, the taste of Liberica coffee has to be compared with the jackfruit (a fruit similar to mango, with an acidic and quite sweet flavor) and is currently used as a meat substitute, especially in Southeast Asia. According to what was detailed by Hernández.
When this variety is processed naturally, it is able to produce these subtle jackfruit notes, which is quite pleasant to the palate. Regarding grains processed at a beneficiary system When washed, citrus and floral flavors are perceived, and even on some occasions more traditional notes such as chocolate.
A cup of Liberica also provides a prolonged sensation on the palate and a balanced sweetness. In fact, they consider it much sweeter than Arabica itself. The reason for this is that their cherries are more porous which allows the grains to absorb more sugars from the mucilage.
Liberica coffee today
In the past, Liberica coffee was not so popular within the coffee industry worldwide, so it was only used for commercial reference instant coffee. In fact, coffee growers used to mix this variety with Robusta, because there were no buyers interested in it. Generally, they sell this mixture to soluble coffee producers like Nestle or those who basically consume Robusta.
According to what Pacita Jesús revealed, the efforts made at the beginning of the 21st century helped popularize Liberica in the Philippines.
Now, importing the Arabica variety can be somewhat expensive for coffee growers in some parts of Southeast Asia (Malaysia and the Philippines). While Liberica is more profitable for them, because it is grown locally and is always available.
Elsewhere, this species has also been used traditionally for blends, with the aim of offering a more persistent finish.
There may still be a long way to go regarding the inclusion of Liberica coffea, but the good news is that the perception regarding this species has been changing. Since, it has already begun to be taken into account for some events. As we detailed at the beginning, the world of coffee is quite broad and as faithful followers of this popular drink, experimenting with this and other species could be one of the most rewarding experiences. We only advise you to opt for freshly ground grain, in order to enjoy its properties to the fullest.
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