Tasting Notes
Clementine, piloncillo, & vanilla
Origin: Mexico
Regions: La Rinconada, El Progresso, Unión Progresso, Barrio Montaña, and Bella Vista, Chiapas
Grower: 168 women coffee producers & Mayan Harvest
MASL: 1450-1600
Varieties: bourbon, caturra, & catimor
Process: washed

Mayan Harvest Coffee is based in the mountainous coffee-growing region of Bella Vista, Chiapas, near the Guatemalan border. The founder, Rosalba Cifuentes Tovia, grew up in Bella Vista and moved to the Bay Area in her youth to seek greater opportunities. She later returned to her childhood community and has dedicated herself to helping smallholder farmers earn a better price for their coffee.

In Bella Vista, women must tend to their farms and still maintain housework and childcare. Despite this heavy workload, Rosalba noticed that their coffees were cleaner and of higher quality. To recognize their efforts, she separated the women-grown coffees from the community lot and paid them higher prices to match the better quality. The Women’s Group is divided into chapters based on region, and each chapter votes for a group leader. The chapters meet regularly to discuss best farming practices and other craft projects that they can do for additional income.

This versatile and easy-going coffee reminds us of clementine, vanilla, and piloncillo, the Mexican name for panela–an unrefined cane sugar used in Latin America.