Had A Grape Day At Lomboy Farms!

http___www.bigleaguekickball.com_category_press_ cheap soma overnight saturday delivery Apart from being the surfing capital of the North, the province of La Union is also considered as the grape capital of the Philippines. Many tourists don’t just go to San Juan’s Urbiztondo for the clean waves and beach party or San Fernando, the provincial capital, they also drop by Bauang as a side trip to pick some grapes. Grape vineyards are very uncommon in the Philippines so you shouldn’t miss this grape picking experience when you visit Elyu!

purchase Soma COD Of course, like me and my companions, you are wondering how grapes were able to live in a country with climate that is not conducive to grow grapes. 

It was a man named Avelino Lomboy, who started planting a few grape cuttings back in the days. He is known as the Grape King of the Philippines. He is a farmer, a scientist and the founder of Lomboy Farms, one of the first vineyards in the country. He started with the cuttings he got from Cebu, developed proper technology and conducted experiments on how to increase grape production given the country’s conditions. For years, Lomboy researched on how to build the viticulture and grape industry in the Philippines.

There is only one specific grape kind that grows in a tropical country like the Philippines and it is the Red Cardinal Grape. This type of grapes likes long dry season so it is really suitable to the climate of La Union. Loamy soil is needed for these vines to grow. The farmers also let the grapes wrap in trellises, which are at least five feet above the ground so the air needed by the grapes has enough space for circulation.

However, since they are locally grown grapes, they are different from imported ones that has little to no acidity. The grapes in Bauang are not seedless and are quite tangy, especially the light-colored berries. So when picking grapes, choose the darkest ones as they are also the ripest and the sweetest in the pack.

But when in Bauang, you are not only paying for the fruit itself. You are paying for the exploration and the adventure. After all, it’s not all the time that we can see blooming grapes and pick them ourselves. We have to travel overseas to witness famous vineyards and wineries. The grape picking is indeed an experience to be remembered.

Moreover, it won’t cost you much money. Grape picking is priced at only 250 pesos per kilo plus 25 pesos entrance fee per head. They’ll provide you a basket and scissors to pick your own grapes. We wanted to limit our grapes into one kilo but it’s so fun that we weren’t able to monitor how many berries we picked. We ended up having four kilos.

The tour guide assigned to us is attentive and friendly. It seems that he’s truly knowledgeable when asked about the farm and the grapes. He tells some fun stories apart from all sales talk and he willingly takes photos and videos of us while doing our thing. It’s sad that we weren’t able to get his name.

It’s an amazing idea to also build a cafe, especially when it features dishes with grape as an ingredient. They were able to execute the flavors of grapes not just into juices and desserts but also to main courses. I love the vibe here. In its balcony, it has the view of the vineyard. Because of its rustic homey interior, Uvas Cafe absolutely got that ambiance we are looking for in a cafe.

We ordered Tuna Pesto Quesadilla, Braised Beef in Grape, Smoothie Halo Halo and Watermelon Shake. The Quesadilla slices are more on cheese though. I couldn’t recognize the flavor of pesto except for the nuts. It would also be better if the pita bread was crispier. Although the dip doesn’t fit the quesadilla, the grapes make a good mayo dip. The beef is absolutely delicious. Every chunk is rich in beefy flavor. The cuts were just big so they’re quite chewy. The sauce has a fruity hint because of the grapes. The Smoothie Halo Halo wasn’t my order but it looks like my mom enjoyed it. The Watermelon Shake tasted natural.

Of course, we can’t leave the farm without taking home some bottled fruit juices. Well, honestly, I don’t have a plan of buying them at first but the taste test was effective which made me think that they’re good gifts to friends and to myself as well. These juices aren’t just refreshing. They are sweet, delectable and addicting, like a non-alcoholic wine. From its taste, we are guaranteed that they naturally crafted. The four flavors to choose from are Grapes, Blueberry, Mangosteen and Guyabano. The first two are my faves.

Lomboy Farm isn’t the only grape farm in Bauang. In fact, in a street parallel to the highway, vast land of grape farms can be seen left and right. There are parts that are on the process of leaf growing, flowering and harvesting separately. If I can’t contain my happiness when roaming around the place, then those who are fond of plants and fruits will surely find joy and amazement in this small town.