It provided packaging expertise, introduced modern bottling operations and sponsored alcohol tasting tours for foreign buyers.
The trade department said the drink had been slowly penetrating the beverage markets in Australia, Japan and Macau.
It faces competition from Sri Lanka in particular, which targets Japan, South Korea and the Maldives with premium blends. Capistrano’s best-seller is lambanog spiked with local wild blackberries called liputi which offer a slightly sweet, tangy taste.
“We want the world to know that lambanog is the official Philippine liquor,” she said.
RSS