Hacienda San Benito in Lipa, Batangas

“There’s a Farm in Everybody’s Heart” says Hacienda San Benito and I believe it’s true!

I would like to imagine myself living at the foot of a mountain surrounded by plants and farm animals, where organic vegetables and ingredients are part of my dishes and everyday cuisine. A place where cigarette smoking and the likes are strictly prohibited, far from noise pollution and secured twenty-four hours, seven days a week. This is a place I hope to spent my life.. my retirement…

Recently, I was invited to tour at Hacienda San Benito located at Lipa, Batangas. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a warm welcome at Terrazas de Barako. I got to meet the Resident Executive Chef Teresa Lobb. (Photos around Terrazas de Barako Cafe)We enjoyed a cup of freshly brewed San Benito Kapeng Barako at Terrazas de Barako Cafe - a cafe overlooking the Kape Barako plantation. You don’t need to go up North for fresh strawberries, here at Hacienda they started growing organic strawberries too! Terrazas de Barako Cafe is one of Hacienda’s amenities. A great place to celebrate a once in a lifetime occasions. Simply dine-in, enjoy a meal or a cup of Kapeng Barako overlooking the hacienda or relaxing while watching the free-flowing water on three cascading pools surrounded by beautiful cut flowers.

   

I can feel the wind blowing on my face, the sweet scent of flowers and fresh plants captures every visitor’s attention. An Eco-tram is readily available and awaits to tour us around hacienda. Our first stop was the vegetable plantation, where they grow ORGANIC vegetables, herbs and fruits. The Finca Central, a 5-hectare commercial integrated Farm grows Organic Herbs and vegetables, fruits and ornamental plants. Aside from mango, coconut they also grow siniguelas trees. It is also a home to many farm animals like Boer goats, horses, carabaos, turkeys, and free-range chickens. Even specialty animals like ostriches and kois from Niigata, Japan.  A farm is not complete without the country-style windmill (Molino del viento). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We dropped by at San Benito Gift Shop where most of their products are available. I once tried their Kapeng Barako at Mercato Centrale, a weekend market in Taguig. This time I bought another pack of Kapeng Barako at p99 and a jar of Cacao at p110 (which I plan to share on my next post). They also sell honey at p150 for a small jar, handmade placemats, fruit and bread baskets. 

Before we end our tour, we say our short prayer at Capilla del Sagrado Corazon, an open-air circular chapel made of cogon which is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The unique residential farming community of Hacienda San Benito is situated at the foot of Mount Malarayat, at the heart of Lipa, Batangas. Managed by a professional farm management group, this distinctive residential estate cum farm provides a real farming experience like no other. Each property has enough space to build your rustic home and a lot teeming with organic produce. Choose from any of the five districts in Hacienda San Benito for the perfect lot for you: Pueblo, Rancho, Hacienda, Vista, and Rotunda. The tour ended with a delicious, tender Beef Tapa and eggplant for lunch and another round of Kapeng Barako for me, I can’t resist!

We had a great time at hacienda San Benito and felt like Haciendera even just for a day! If God permits, I would like to have a small portion in this serene place where I could spent a lifetime. (Group pictures with the Welness Consultant, Ms. Joan Malazarte)

Learn more about living in a real farm, visit Hacienda San Benito.

 

Hacienda San Benito,

located at the foot of Mount Malarayat,

Lipa, Batangas

 

 

Disclosure: The writer and owner of this blog  is not in any way connected to Hacienda San Benito.