Guatemala Abel Valladares Geisha Washed

FLAVOR：Lime, Apricot, Jasmine

Origin: Guatemala
Region: Monjas, Jalapa
Producer: Abel Valladares
Altitude: 1,450~1,550m
Variety: Geisha
Process: Washed

[Recipe/Pairing]
Drip (for 1 cup): 14g powder, 250g hot water
Its floral aroma and bright, delicate acidity, like lime or apricot, complement light desserts and citrus flavors. It is particularly well-suited to sweets with tart fruit flavors, such as lemon tart, orange mousse, and pastries with apricot jam. It also pairs well with simple white chocolate, which brings out the coffee's floral aroma and sweetness.

[Production background]

This elegant coffee has a floral flavor characteristic of Geisha and a clean, delicate lime-like acidity, and as it cools it takes on a sweet, lemon candy-like flavor.

Abel Valladares has worked in coffee for most of his life. Before purchasing El Pinar 20 years ago, Abel worked as an agronomic advisor on more than 1,000 hectares of farms. When the opportunity to purchase El Pinar arose, Abel jumped at the chance to have his own farm and devote himself to cultivating excellent coffee, including unique and sought-after varieties such as Geisha, Pacamara, and Pacas, in the quaint town of Monjas Xalapa.

The key to El Piñal's exceptional coffee quality is the active involvement of the entire family throughout the process, from harvesting to strict quality control and meticulous storage, each member of the family plays a vital role in ensuring the delivery of the best possible coffee. The farm's cherries are harvested to a strict Brix scale of at least 18-20%. After harvest, the cherries are taken to the farm's processing plant, where the pulp is removed and allowed to ferment overnight before being transferred to the farm's patio to dry for approximately 10 days.

El Pinar is part of ACOGUA, an association of coffee growers that supports the Committee for the Protection of the Deaf and Blind (Comité Pro ciegos y Sordos de Guatemala) through a health center that provides vision and hearing health services to the community.

[ The relationship between the country's economy and the coffee industry
Coffee remains one of Guatemala's major export items, contributing significantly to GDP and employment. Coffee production is a major source of income, particularly in rural areas, and a large proportion of the agricultural population is employed in the coffee industry. Recently, efforts to improve quality have been progressing, leading to an expansion of specialty coffee exports. Environmentally sustainable agriculture is also being promoted, and efforts are underway to establish ethical production systems.

[ Politics and its impact on the coffee industry
Although Guatemala's politics have been unstable in recent years, the agricultural sector, especially the coffee industry, continues to receive support from the government and international organizations. Programs have been introduced for improving rural infrastructure and sustainable coffee cultivation, and coffee producer associations such as ACOGUA also provide health and educational support to local communities. One of the defining features of Guatemalan coffee production is the active social contribution activities that go hand in hand with coffee production.