Getting to know Honduras Coffee
A Coffee Miracle from Central America.
Honduras is a Central American country bordering Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Honduras was one of the cradles of the pre-Columbian Mayan civilization, but centuries of Spanish colonialism bequeathed Catholicism and the Spanish language to it. Today's Honduras, an independent democracy since 1821, is a veritable mosaic of different influences, giving it a unique, distinctive color.
Honduras is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, but its main focus is on sugar cane, tropical fruits (such as bananas) and, of course, coffee. Coffee has always been a staple of the Honduran economy, and one of its main export products, but in recent years it has begun to become better known and loved. Let's get to know him better!
A short history of coffee in Honduras
Coffee arrived in Honduras in the middle of the 18th century, a time of its spread in the countries of Central and South America. Initially, coffee production was very limited, as most coffee plantations were small holdings, at high altitudes and next to small towns or even villages. Honduras' main export for decades was bananas, which in turn acted discouragingly to boost coffee cultivation.
However, after the war, the banana industry was shaken to its full decline in the 1960s, prompting many farmers to consider growing coffee as a more cost-effective alternative. The US provided funds and know-how, while the Instituto Hondureno del Café, the country's official office for the cultivation and distribution of coffee, was founded in 1970. At the same time, public investment (such as the construction and repair of roads to the country's mountains) and a number of laws and regulations have achieved in twenty years a real miracle, dramatically developing coffee production.
Today, Honduras is consistently among the top ten coffee producing countries in the world, while it holds the first place among the countries of Central America, surpassing its permanent "rival", Guatemala. In fact, in recent years, serious efforts have been made to promote Honduran coffee as a specialty, single-variety choice, with excellent results.
Getting to know Honduran coffee
In Honduras, more than 100,000 coffee growers operate on smaller or larger plantations, although small producers tend to cooperate, improving both their produce and their pay.
The vast majority of coffee grown in Honduras is Arabica, and belongs to several sub-varieties found in Central American countries (Bourbon, Caturrra, Catuai, Pacas). Honduras may not have the fertile volcanic soils found in Costa Rica and Guatemala, but its plantations are located at high altitudes (1100 - 1700 meters), the rainfall is high and the temperature is ideal, factors that create a microclimate that is ideal for growing quality coffee.
What does Honduran coffee taste like?
Honduran coffee is generally balanced, with a round body and full flavor, without exacerbations in its acidity, and with natural sweetness, reminiscent of similar coffees from other Central American countries. As it has a character that is addressed to a lot of people, it is an ideal ingredient in commercial blends, as it gives aroma and flavor to the "hazy" Asian coffees and perfectly tames the sparkle and the "weird" aromas of the coffees that come from Africa. Extremely popular blends such as Crema e Aroma and Lavazza Gran Espresso are based on Honduran beans.
Although the flavor notes of Honduran coffee may vary depending on the region of origin, variety and processing, Honduran coffee beans are usually characterized by notes of caramel, chocolate and honey, discreetly complemented by more vivid aromas of fruit or citrus. . The unique character of coffee has led many producers to have their crop as a specialty, single origin, which allows us to taste the aromas of Honduran terroir in their entirety.
Buondi Craft Single Origin Honduras is a great choice for exploring the character of Honduran coffee, while Organic Bio Puro blends Honduran beans with Peruvian beans in an explosion of flavor and aroma.
A small country in Central America gives us the perfect beans for a coffee we can enjoy all day - Honduran coffee is a great choice for those who love sweet and balanced coffee.
