This is the Barako Mug by the emanila store in cafepress.com. They do have a lot of creative items in their store and they have something going there by using the word barako. It would be nicer if the mug fit the word barako more. I mean barako, as we know, is Coffee Liberica in the Philippines and it is known for its strong taste, powerful body and pungent odor. It is also often related to male strength and "machismo" that's why it would have been nice if the mug didn't look this smooth. Maybe something with a more rough texture will do. Nevertheless, it's still a creative idea to put barako in the mug and help promote it.

Interested in helping save the barako? Click here

Milk goes well with coffee and as coffee lovers we have to make sure that what we put in our coffee is safe and melamine-free. As of October 13, 2008 here is a list done by the Philippines' Bureau of Food and Drugs of the latest milk products that tested negative for melamine:

1. Anchor Fresh Milk
2. Caidenly Biscuits (Milk Flavor)
3. Candyman Kendi Mint Chocolate Filled Center
4. Candyman Vi-Va Caramel Sweets Chocolate Filled Center
5. Dairy Champ Evaporada
6. DongGuan Bairong Chocolate Cream Biscuits
7. DongGuan Wanjiang Wan Fu Papaya Cookie
8. DongGuan Bairong Apple Biscuits
9. DongGuan Golden Paddyfield Giadenjy Biscuits
10. DongGuan Golden Paddyfield Little Biscuits
11. DongGuan Mayong Guang Feng Food
12. Engtian Layer Biscuits
13. Eugnitan Layer Biscuits
14. F&N Blue Cow Condensada
15. F&N Daisy Condensada
16. Farmhouse Skimmed Milk Powder
17. Fat & Thin Milky Soya Drink
18. Fudielai Biscuits
19. Keko Candy
20. Kyoto Cookies
21. Liu Wei Bang Lollipop Candy
22. M&M's Minis Chocolate Candies
23. Mai Wei Su Cookies
24. Milky Soya Milk Drink (Chocolate)
25. Milky Soya Milk Drink (Green Apple)
26. Milky Soya Milk Drink (Melon)
27. Milky Soya Milk Drink (Sweet Corn)
28. Pengtian Thin Cracker
29. Pokka Soy 4 U Soy Bean Drink
30. Prime Roast Calcium Enriched Nutritious Cereal
31. Prime Roast Oligosacharide Nutritious Cereal
32. Sally Sikaoqi Milk Candy
33. Sally Sikaoqi Coffee Candy
34. Sukacita Little Bear Biscuits (Chocolate flavor)
35. Suntree Coffee Candy
36. Tiong Hwa Soya Milk (unsweetened)
37. Vitasoy Calci Plus Healthy Soya Drink (Low Sugar Hi-Calcium Low Fat Cholesterol Free)
38. Yeo's Drink
39. Zhen Xin Sandwich Biscuits
40. Zhongshan Lewwa Food Jelly (Pudding)
41. Zhongshan Meihua Butter with Filling Cake

There are still more to be tested so let's wait for the results. For milk lovers out there, be sure to know what you are taking in. As they say it is better safe than sorry.

Have a great day!

Picture by: tanakawho

As I was looking for coffee mugs around the net, I came across this photo blog by Aries. He has this photography project called Project 52 where he shoots 52 photos in 52 weeks. Great idea huh? Here are some of the pictures he has and luckily they're coffee mugs from Starbucks Philippines - a great fit for Pinoy Coffee Tickle. Enjoy!

Starbucks Manila Coffee Mug



Starbucks Mini City Coffee Mugs 2008
(Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Tagaytay)



Hope you liked the mugs and the pictures. Please visit his site to know more about his works. Thanks Aries for the wonderful pictures. Great job!

This is a very informative video by GMA7 where they show coffee in three parts: a woman who drinks 10 cups a day (that is what she claims), a cupping expert who explains how there are different types of coffee beans here in the Philippines and last is interview with the owner of Figaro (Pacita Juan) as she explains the coffee industry here in the Philippines and how every Filipino can help support it.

They formed Kape Isla where they showcase different coffee products/brands from around the Philippines. You may purchase your local beans in their Serendra branch to show your support to our coffee industry.

Filipinos are really coffee drinkers and according to the video even the production of coffee beans here can't supply the demand within the country. We will have to plant more and plant more if we are hoping to supply our demand and those of other countries.

This "Salakot Man Pinoy" Mug by Pinoy Apparel really caught my attention because of its color and the design. I have never associated the Philippines with this type of green since every time I see a Filipino design that is inspired by a flag it usually has the colors blue, yellow, red and white. As for this mug the only color or should I say shade is white so it was hard for me to understand at first but eventually I liked it and understood that as artists you should have freedom with your color and work. Who knows maybe this type of green will be the next "in" color. This is a mug that every Pinoy should be proud of us.

Another Nescafe commercial here in the Philippines that I was not able to watch...again! Good thing there's Youtube! This commercial was made for the summer..something to shake your summer and you can do that with Nescafe.

After posting videos for the last couple of months, I have realized that Nescafe does really splurge on creating ads and nice songs for their target market. I am sure it has been effective since it is one of the most popular coffee brands here in the Philippines.

My Bonifacio High Street coffee hop card is now complete and this is the mug that I got as a reward for buying 8 coffee drinks in Bonifacio High Street/Fort. I've been waiting for this mug and I couldn't wait what it would be like. I was really excited and the mug's design design didn't disappoint.

How could it be disappointing when it was painted by BenCab, the Philippines' National artist. The painting is called "Conversation" and is Acrylic on Canvas 2008. The size of the painting is 48" x 48".

For those who want one, today is the last day to get your stickers but the last day of claiming is if I'm not mistaken, October 7. So hurry and treat your friends to some coffee tonight or better yet, don't treat them and just ask for their stickers.

It is such a beautiful mug and it is a coffee mug that I wouldn't want to use. I'd rather display this mug somewhere and treat it like a painting and hope that its value appreciates also..lol!

Have you ever heard of the Philippine Civet Coffee? Kopi Luwak, or Civet coffee is coffee is coffee made from coffee berries, mainly found in the Philippines and other parts of Asia, which have been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of the Asian Palm Civet (also known as the Toddy Cat, a cat-sized mammal). Weird right? I haven't tasted it though since everywhere I go it quite a huge "tag price attached" to it(One of the most expensive coffee in the world, selling for between $120 and $600 USD per pound). I will eventually try this since I'm getting curious by the day.

Learn more by watching the video above (It's in Tagalog though).

As some of you know I went to Thailand last week and of course I couldn't forget bringing some coffee mugs from there. Due to budget constraints and weight limit I was only able to buy 2 mugs but both of them are nice and I am excited to show them to you. Tell me what you think all right?

I had to get this when I saw this..a Starbucks Bangkok Mug! Nice! After this one, I plan to collect this kind of Starbucks mug wherever I go.



And here's my favorite..

It just look like a plain looking mug..nice color though..




But look at what you'll see inside...a Shark! It was the only one left that time and it was only 29 Bhat (less than 1 dollar) not bad for a design like that huh?



So there are the two coffee mugs that I bought in Thailand. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

It's been awhile since I last posted here and I'd like to apologize to my readers. I came back from Thailand and you may visit here for my coffee trip and food trip. The trip was really fun and I encourage everyone who has time and extra money (actually it was a cheap trip) to go visit Thailand. I am sure you won't regret it.

Right now I am back to reality and I'd like to update everyone regarding my Coffee Hop Card. It took awhile to get to my 5th sticker (cup) since I hardly hang out in Bonifacio High Street for some coffee but I'm close to getting 8 stickers and that's all I need to get a Limited Edition Coffee Mug with Artwork by National Artist, BenCab.

This promotion ends on September 30 so you can still get you Coffee Hop Card and hopefully get your coffee mug. Goodluck with yours as I will also need that right now. I still need three stickers with limited time. That means I will have to go to Fort at least three times in a span of one week, which is a little out of my way. But in order to get my mug and for the love of coffee.. I will do it!

Here's another Nescafe 3 in 1 Pinoy Coffee Ad performed by Parokya ni Edgar, one of the more popular bands here in the Philippines. Just like most Nescafe Coffee Ads, this is also one of their more creative ones and like other songs by Parkoya, this has got a nice tune to it. This is a very catchy ad that I wasn't able to watch on tv. Good thing there's youtube, where I was able to get this video.

Parokya Ni Edgar - Nescafe Jingle Song Lyrics

Patakbo-takbo
Iba't ibang pinatutunguhan
kung minsan 'di na natin alam
ang ating pupuntahan

ang bilis ng mundo
kung minsan ay nakakahilo
may naghihintay na lunas dito
kung gusto mong huminto

chorus:
a cup in hand
relax ka lang at sumabay
with a cup in hand
let's all hang out for awhile
tumambay muna tayo diyan sa tabi
may baon na kwentuhan at kape
one moment
one NESCAFE

Thanks to www.lyriczz.com

I love this mug not only because of the design (which is really well thought of, in my opinion) but because it's all about the fight "Thrilla in Manila." It's the famous boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, fought at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on October 1, 1975.

As for the design, I'm giving this a 9/10 as I have yet to see the perfect cup. But as I said earlier, the design was well thought of. If I am not mistaken the background of the coffee mug is the Sun in the Philippine flag and yes, the three stars are there too. Simple but great work huh? What do you think?

See more colors of the mug here.

This is a Nescafe TV Ad back in 1977 that I saw in youtube (Thanks to Adman1909). It is such a great feeling to watch some old Filipino TV commercials. I must admit that at first, the song wasn't that catchy but after watching it, I didn't realize that I was singing it and it was stuck in my head. The coffee commercial must have worked on me and it makes me want to drink coffee. Drink coffee...relax and reminisce..

Hmm..I'm not yet old though and I wasn't born yet when this showed but it just fascinates me how times really have changed - from what people used to wear to the production of TV commercials but one thing remains and that is coffee hasn't changed. It is still a wonderful thing, don't you agree?

Another thing that makes me wonder, was the sport Polo popular back in the days? Since it's in the commercial, maybe it used to be popular. The Polo Sport that I know now, besides the shirts and perfume, is not that popular anymore since it's quite an expensive sport and I feel that there are only few places where you can really play and open fields are not counted (I think). It raises the question, was Polo a sport for any Filipino before OR did Nescafe used to be a very expensive brand that only caters to the Class A/B. Or maybe I just misinterpreted the whole point of the commercial. What do you think?

It was my birthday yesterday and look what I got...a Coffee Tickle Mug (Thanks Ada!). I only got a Coffee Tickle one though but I'm looking forward to making a Pinoy Coffee Tickle mug too.

This is just a nice coffee mug as I used it for the first time (ok..no connection with the movie that just showed last week) today and as I said in my other blog, this is just perfect! This adds to my collection of coffee mugs where I don't use the others since I am contented with my spaceship type mug

So what do you think? Share your thoughts regarding the Coffee Tickle mug. Have a great day everyone!

Here are the top droppers for Pinoy Coffee Tickle for the month of August:

Wonderful Pic Colection
Troubleshooting PC and Network Connections
Pinoy Teens Online
Me, My Camera and GIMP
daily free software
In My Kitchen
Learn tricks of blogging
Steven Video
FruityOaty
The Matthias Chronicles

As a form of appreciation to my top droppers I'll be giving them 75 ECs each. (It was supposed to be more but sadly no one entered the contest but no worries since I'll be revising it in my next contest..:) ) I also gave out the same amount in my other blog, Coffee Tickle.

Thanks again and have a great day!:)

Here we see some Filipinos trying to do their own version of the Folgers Coffee Jingle back in the 90s. There have been a lot of versions done for this jingle but I'd have to say this was actually good. It was funny to see them dancing with their cups (without any coffee). Great job on this Folgers Coffee video!

Here is a mug I saw while searching the internet for some Pinoy/ Filipino inspired/owned mugs. It's designed by the people from Phil. Mountain Coffee in Tiendesitas (Ortigas). I encourage everyone to visit their place to see more coffee related items. Just hang out there and taste Philippine Mountain Coffee.