By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
Banna, Ilocos Norte—Created
with the perfect blend, the Banna-blend rice coffee produced by the Bagnos
Multi-purpose Cooperative will now be a frequent display in leading groceries
nationwide.
Backed by Umic International
Inc., a trading company since 1999 and in coordination with the Department of
Trade and Industry, Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte and the Department of
Agrarian Reform, the Banna Blend Rice Coffee produced by the Agrarian Reform
Beneficiaries has inspired Banna’s “One Town One Product” which is now ready to
supply a bigger market.
DAR Provincial Agrarian
Reform Officer Vic Ines said they feel happy and proud of the transformation of
this agrarian community, now producing value-adding agricultural products such
as rice coffee.
In 2008, the rice-coffee making
business in Banna has to go through the traditional process of roasting rice
through wood fire which wood took about four hours to roast five gantas of rice
and ground through corn mill for two hours.
Later on, the technology was
improved through various trainings and skills upgrading , courtesy of the of
various government line agencies such as the DAR, Department of Labor and
Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, National Food Authority,
Department of Agriculture, Mariano Marcos State University, Land Bank of the
Philippines and the Local Government Unity of Banna, among others.
Located at Brgy. Binacag, the
aromatic and perfect blend of the healthy rice coffee of Banna gained
popularity in the market, prompting local producers to expand their business to
capture new and bigger market.
Made from specially chosen hybrid rice locally grown
in the municipality of Banna, the rice coffee is roasted to golden
brown, and then powdered to bring an instant healthy coffee in a cup.
To date, the Banna blend rice coffee comes in powder packed
into bottle jars of 300 or 420 grams, sachets also come in 125, 250, 300 and
450 grams including in 3-in-1 packets.
Even during the olden times, Ilocano favorite’s rice coffee
is considered as a good remedy for gas pain, ulcer and liver problems. Rice has
fiber, Vitamin B, protein and carbohydrate.
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