Honduras washed SHG Microlot - Martha Licida Vasquez *TOP LOT*

This is a washed SHG grade lot from producer Martha Licida Vasquez in the Celaque region in western Honduras.

THE PRODUCER

Martha is from the town of San Sebastian in the state of Lempira. She is the eldest of 14 siblings and both her parents were farmers. Martha's coffee journey started out as a trader. Soon after she married at 22, Martha began travelling to Guatemala to buy produce to sell back home. She was able to grow this merchandise business for many years until a coffee-producing friend encouraged her to buy a plot of land in San Sebastian in 1987, convincing her that it was more economical to produce her own coffee than buy and resell.

Martha now owns 4 farms: San Jose del Pito (5.6ha), San Sebastian (2.8ha), El Carrizal (7ha) and El Guayabillo (1.39ha) situated at an average altitude of 1,750masl. She cultivates the varieties of Bourbon, Lempira, IHCAFE 90, Red & Yellow Catuai, and Catimor. The farm is RFA certified and Martha is currently in the process of gaining UTZ and Organic certification.

THE PROCESS

Harvesting is carried out selectively and by hand. Ripe cherries are mechanically pulped and fermented for 12-16 hours depending on ambient conditions. After thorough washing, the parchment coffee is sun-dried on raised beds and concrete patios until the optimum moisture content is reached. At this point the coffee is rested in a clean, cool and dry environment before secondary processing (milling, grading, sorting).