Fast becoming a favorite coffee with most of our coffee friends - our Cafe de Americas (puddin) is a blend of Nicaraguan and this Mexican bean. Considering how delicious and full bodied this bean is we find it interesting that coffee drinkers tend to ignore Mexican coffees. I’ll take this bean over most Sumatrans any day.
*In spite of its cultural and natural diversity and richness, Chiapas ranks as Mexico’s poorest state. The indigenous Mayan communities, in particular, remain at the very bottom of the socioeconomic scale and often face discrimination as well as a systematic lack of access to educational and employment opportunities. The Zapatista uprising in 1994, made famous by its balaclava-clad leader Subcomandante Marcos, stemmed from the years of frustration and oppression.
Since then, communities producing and selling high grown coffee, in the Altos region between the pine forests and the Lacandón Jungle, have been able to improve their standard of living by selling through the Fair Trade market.
One particular group comprised of 1,700 Tzeltal and Tzotzil speaking families, known simply as “Majomut” has established a reputation for the high quality of its coffee.
Their coffee is grown at an elevation of 1,000 to 1,700 meters above sea level and is graded accordingly as HG and SHG and has earned the “Gourmet Prep” distinction which earns them an even higher price.
Their predominant varietals are Typica and Mundo Novo, with the cup profile featuring fragrance and notes of maple syrup and berries, with pleasant acidity and good body (no wonder our Cafe de America’s has earned the nickname - pudding.
Majomut became a Fair Trade Certified cooperative in 1994 and earned their organic certification in 1995. With the Fair Trade premiums that they have earned, they have invested in educational, financial, and technical projects benefitting their families. They also strive to further improve living conditions by focusing on housing, better grain production, and food security as well as organizing women and forming micro-banks.
Its important and easy to support sustainable and equitable agriculture. It makes a difference.
