Honduras Lempira - El Carrizal

Caramel, plum, apricot, almond

TOP LOT

Bag Weight	69 KG BAG
Harvest Season	2021/22
Status	Spot
Lot Number	P608209-1

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About This Coffee

José Justino is a producer from El Carretón, a small community in the region of San Sebastián, Lempira. In 2007 he began purchasing land begin growing coffee, which now includes farms in the Azacualpa community, La Mision village, San Antonio village, all in the San Marcos de Caiquin Municipality, Lempira. In 2016 he bought another plot of land in La Laguna community in San Sebastián and planted it with coffee. This is fully washed Catuai and Bourbon. The Lempira department is named after an indigenous warrior who led 30,000 Lenca sooldiers into battle against the Spanish in 1537. Lempira means “Lord of the Mountain” in the Lenca language. It was long thought that Lempira died from an assassins bullet after an invitation to parley, but recent research has revealed he likely died in battle.

Country of Origin	Honduras
Harvest Season	2021/22
Coffee Grade	HND CA WA SHG
Bag Type	Grain Pro / Ecotact
Plant Species	Arabica
Processing	Washed
Cup Score	85.25
Variety	Bourbon, Catuai

Region	Lempira
Farm Name	El Carrizal

History of Coffee in Honduras

Prior to 1900, coffee was essentially a garden crop in Honduras, grown on small lots of land and traded within the country for internal consumption. Less than 10 percent of the coffee harvested was exported in 1894. By 1900, exports had more than doubled, but banana was still king. A decline in banana production over the decades coincided with a slow but steady growth in coffee production. Today, Honduras is the largest coffee producer in Central America, exporting more than 5 million bags last year, and is one of the largest exporters of specialty grade coffee.

Growing Coffee in Honduras

Honduras is somewhat unique in that it experienced the most significant growth in export volume after the emergence of the specialty coffee industry, so new farmers and new mills begin with quality as their goal. Coffee is now pervasive in Honduras, grown in 210 of the 298 municipalities and throughout central and coastal highlands within six districts identified as Coffee Regions. Starting in the north and moving south, the regions are Copan, Opalaca, Montecillos, Comayagua, El Paraiso, and Agalta. More than 60 percent of Honduras coffee is grown above 12 hundred meters and as high as 16 hundred. Almost 90 percent of Honduras coffee is grown on small (less than 153 bags) and medium (between 153 and 766 bags) sized farms. Virtually all Honduras coffee (over 90 percent) is washed and sun dried. Plant varieties include Cautuai, Caturra, Bourbon, Typica, and Pacas.