slow food coffee forts in Central America

It all started in Huehuetenango, first visit to Guatemalan highland communities.

In 2002, I started Slow Food with the goal of creating a network of good, clean and fair coffee producers. Since then, we have followed these farmers’ organizations until a strong network of seven presidencies was created: two in Central America (Huehuetenango in Guatemala and Camapara in Honduras) and five in Africa (Harenna in Ethiopia, Luwero and Monte Elgo in Uganda). . and the Ibo Islands in Mozambique and the sustainability of Sao Tome and Principe).

From the history of these communities and the work we do with them, we want to take a journey that will lead us to discover the biodiversity of coffee.

grow story: Slow Food Coffee AssociationFrom the core of these societies, a comprehensive and collaborative network has been launched that brings together all the actors in the supply chain. The invitation to participate is open to all, from signature Shows Describes the objectives of the network: environmental protection, food security and protection of basic human rights In the Slow Food Coffee Alliance statement, we suggest transparency and traceability so consumers know who and where their coffee was produced.

Huehuetenango Highland Coffee – Guatemala

Jesuit priests brought coffee to Guatemala in 1773 and today the country produces the best coffee in the world. Presidium coffee is made from Coffea arabica (Typica, Bourbon, and Caturra varieties) grown in the shade of tall trees. The coffee beans are hand-picked, picked one by one and placed in a wicker basket tied at the waist of the filling with a vine. The beans are extracted from the berries by light fermentation, which begins within four hours of harvest and continues for 24 to 36 hours. After removing the meat, the beans are dried for at least three hours, during which time they are constantly stirred manually with a rake.

Mountain Coffee Camabara – Honduras

No one knows exactly when coffee arrived in Honduras, but some seeds are believed to have arrived from Costa Rica among the goods imported by merchants who traveled between 1799 and 1804. Although coffee cultivation is very important to the national economy today, the country’s small farmers cannot earn A decent living from the harvest.

Today, the mountain is home to about 500 coffee growers, mostly small cooperatives, who traditionally grow Arabica plants of the Tibeca, Bourbon and Catura varieties in the shade of local trees, at 1,200-1,600 meters above sea level. . They produce coffee washed down with a strong aroma of peach and amaretto with fruits and chocolate.

If you want to actively participate in the future of coffee, consider joining Slow Food Coffee Association And support us in our quest for good, clean, fair coffee for everyone!