Peru - Dona Santos Y Vecinos
Cupping Notes: White grapes, blackberries, red fruits, chocolate
Country: Peru
Region: Cajamarca
Varietals: Caturra, Pache, Bourbon
Process: 18-24 hour fermentation then washed
Drying: Dried on Covered Patios
Altitude: 1860 MASL
ABOUT DONA SANTOS Y VECINOS:
Santos is a vibrant 64-year-old woman who lives in a small, picturesque community called El Huaco. Nestled in a stunning micro-region north of Jaén, in Peru's renowned coffee-growing area of Cajamarca, El Huaco boasts breathtaking altitudes that create ideal conditions for cultivating exceptional coffee. Over recent years, the wider Cajamarca region has gained a reputation for its outstanding quality and complex, mouthwatering flavor profiles. In the area surrounding El Huaco, coffee farms reach elevations as high as 2,000 meters above sea level, producing coffees with elegant yellow fruit notes, hints of citrus, and delicate floral undertones. For Santos, coffee has always been an essential part of her life. "My father Basilio taught me how to grow coffee when I was just a little girl," she recalls. "He was the one who gifted me a plot of land during the agrarian reform introduced in Peru in 1969. My farm, Romerillo, now has 5.75 hectares of coffee in production," she explains. Santos grows Caturra, Bourbon, and Pache varieties on her farm, and the land is also home to various types of timber trees, including Rosemary and Cedar. "I feel fortunate to live in an area rich in biodiversity, where we can protect endangered wildlife from hunters."
