NOVEMBER 2023 DISCOVERY COFFEE

Ecuador - Altos de Saraguallas

MUSCOVADO, BLACKCURRANT, RICH

FILTER ROAST

REGION | Loja, Ecuador

PROCESS | Washed

SPECIES | Arabica 

VARIETY | Sarchimor, Acauã, Castillo

ALTITUDE | 1000-1800 MASL

ABOUT ALTOS DE SARAGUALLAS

Puyango, a captivating canton nestled in the southern region of Ecuador, boasts a diverse and picturesque landscape. The area is characterised by rolling hills, lush green valleys, and the meandering Puyango River, offering a stunning backdrop of natural beauty. 

Puyango's main economic activities revolve around agriculture, with a particular focus on coffee cultivation. The fertile soil and favourable climate make it an ideal location for coffee production. The coffee farms in Puyango yield high-quality beans that are sought after for their unique flavour profiles.

As a result, coffee plays a vital role in the local economy, providing livelihoods for many residents while contributing to the region's rich cultural tapestry.

Along the mountains that surround the Lagunas de Saraguallas, one of the most important natural resources of the region, lives a group of coffee farmers who contribute to the blend, Altos de Saraguallas. 

In this beautiful and touristic place that captivates every visitor’s attention, you can witness the confluences of two of the most significant water streams in the region: Saraguallas and Santa Ana. The convergence of these two water streams forms Las Juntas, which in turn becomes the Puyango River. The communities settled around this picturesque natural resource are culturally rich, with their typical festivities steeped in tradition and craftsmanship. During their religious celebrations, they often dance to the rhythm of the town band.

Just as they have traditional rituals for their festivities, they also maintain traditional agricultural practices for farming and land management. Farmers in the region cultivate sugar cane, beans, soy, corn and coffee.

HISTORY OF COFFEE IN ECUADOR

Coffee production in Ecuador is one of only 15 countries in the world that grows and exports both Arabica and Robusta coffee, the two main species of coffee produced and consumed in the world. Different ecosystems in Ecuador permit different coffee cultures to occur all over the country, including in the Galápagos Islands.

The culture, production, commercialization, industrialization, and export of the coffee is one of the most important sectors of the economy of Ecuador, which is why it is necessary for private and the public sectors to work in conjunction with each other, in order to promote development and to achieve an improvement in the socio-economic conditions in the trade. CORPEI, COFENAC, and ANCAFE (Asociación Nacional de Exportadores de Café) are some institutions helping promote ecuadorian coffee around the world. Agriculturists dedicated to this activity, as well as the extension of exports, make important contributions to the Ecuadorian economy.