The Republic of Honduras is a small, Central American country less than half the size of the United Kingdom. Despite its small size, Honduras is the sixth highest producer of coffee globally, the third-highest producer in Latin America, and the top producer in Central America.
Coffee was first introduced to Honduras by traders in the 1700s, but it wasn’t until the 1960s that Honduran coffee became of significant economic importance to the country.
Eighty per cent of Honduras’s land area is dominated by mountains. Coffee is a crop well-suited to high altitudes, but prior to the 1960s, little to no effort was made to improve infrastructure around coffee-growing areas to allow growth for the coffee sector. Due to a number of reasons, for example government-backed support, support from the United States Agency for International Development, increased international demand and a growing population, this has changed.
Today it is estimated that more than 110 000 families in Honduras rely on coffee for their livelihood. 95 per cent of these families farm small-scale and rely on family members alone for the agricultural and harvest labour involved.
Honduras has been very successful in accessing speciality coffee markets and the country produces numerous coffees with a cupping score over 90, some reaching close to 95!
Honduras Monte Cristo HGEP Dark Roast
The John Watt and Son February coffee of the month is a dark roasted Honduran High Grown European Preparation (HGEP), the Honduras Monte Cristo HGEP.
European preparations consist of hand-sorted coffee beans only. Hand-selection results in a final product that is of greater quality. This, coupled with the use of blends containing the main Central American Arabica varieties of coffee plants, has led to coffee growers experiencing significant improvements to their livelihoods.
Details of Honduras Monte Cristo HGEP Dark Roast Coffee
Region: Copan – Western Region
Altitude: 1200- 1350 metres above sea level
Processing: Washed
Variety: Bourbon, Caturra, Catuai
Aroma: Sweet Citrus
Flavour: Soft acidity, with chocolate hints
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