NOTES: TANGERINE, SWEET KIWI FRUIT, LEMON ACIDITY, CREAMY MILK CHOCOLATE MOUTHFEEL AND BODY

This lot is produced by El Zapoteco group in the Oaxaca region in the southern part of Mexico. The group is an association of some 180 coffee producing families. Most members of the association are of Zapotec heritage and speak Spanish as second language after Zapoteco. The average farm size is less than one hectare of coffee and produces between 100 and 150 kilos of parchment per year. Rather than employ pickers during the harvest, when a member’s coffee is ready to be picked, several neighbours will help the producer to harvest their coffee and they then return the favour later. The coffees are pulped and fermented, often in hand built, wooden tanks, then dried on ‘petates’ – traditional woven mats. El Zapoteco group has been working for several years now to establish direct relationships with buyers in order to obtain higher prices for the producers whilst fostering a strong sense of community for the association and its producers.