About the coffee
- Cupping notes: Sweet acidity, full body, notes of caramel, plum, and red apple
- Cultivation: In the Andes mountain range in the state of Cajamarca, in well drained, sandy soil
- Variety: Catimor, Caturra, Mundo Novo, Typica
- Altitude: 5,000-5,750 feet
- Preparation: Fully washed, sun-dried
About the people who grow it
Top and bottom photos: royalny.com, by permission, all rights reserved
This special sub-group of all-women farmers is called “Las Damas de San Ignacio” and is part of the larger COOPAFSI (Cooperative Agraria “Frontera San Ignacio” Ltda), established in June 1969. Gender equality was an important factor when the land was purchased and divided among producers. This particular cooperative is unique because they empower and promote women-grown coffee. These women contribute to the physical and sensory quality of the coffee. They are always managing new projects and developing new ways to improve the lives of their families. They focus their efforts on improving quality and delivering consistent coffee to different markets. In 2016, a committee of women was created by the cooperative and they are responsible for distributing loans which will enable producers to improve their own land while also taking part in new developments for their kitchens, crafts and livestock. They also created a computer lab which allows all members to stay up to date with modern technology.