FLAVOUR PROFILE: Milk chocolate, smooth hazelnut, Orange and Cherry
FARMS: Los Toltecas, The Aruco Cooperative
LOCATION: Corquin, Copan, Honduras
ALTITUDE: 1200 - 1400 masl.
VARIETAL: Mixed
PROCESS: Washed
Named after the indigenous inhabitants of the Corquin region, where the Aruco cooperative is situated, this coffee blend comprises parainema, lempira, IHCafe 90, and red catuai varieties. Grown at altitudes ranging from 1200 to 1400 masl, all processing occurs at the centralized wet mill located just outside Corquin, at 800 masl. These conditions optimize processing and the creation of consistent, stable lots. After floating and washing, the coffee undergoes pulping and fermentation in tiled tanks overnight for 12 to 16 hours. Subsequently, it is patio-dried for 7 to 10 days, with the option of using a mechanical dryer if weather conditions are wet, ensuring a temperature of under 40 degrees Celsius is maintained.
Established in 2006 with 14 producers, the Aruco Cooperative thrives in Corquín, situated within the Copán Department of Honduras, near the Guatemalan border. Formed due to local buyers undervaluing their coffee, these producers sought to attain prices that matched the quality of their produce. The cooperative derives its name from the Río Aruco, sourced from the Celaque National Park, which boasts Honduras' highest peak.
Presently, the cooperative supports over 200 producers across the region, cultivating various coffee varieties at altitudes ranging from 1000 to 1600 masl. These include Bourbon, Caturra, Catuai Amarillo, Catuai Rojo, IHCAFE 90, Lempira, Obata, Maragogipe, Pacamara, Geisha, and Parainema. Aruco provides its members with technical guidance, fostering quality enhancement and increased yields, accompanied by financial assistance. Simultaneously, it promotes environmentally conscious farming practices, holding organic certification. The cooperative's annual coffee production now reaches 26,000 69kg bags, distributed worldwide as well as within the Honduras market.
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