Guatemala Huehuetenango Candelaria SHB

• Roast: Medium
• Flavor: Dark Chocolate, Dried Fruit, Stone Fruit, Tea-like
  
• Body: Medium
• Acidity: Medium
• Process: Washed

Huehuetenango is the highest and driest of Guatemala's non-volcanic regions. This renowned region owes much to the dry, hot winds that come in from the mountains of Mexico's Tehuantepec plain. The additional heat layers protect Huehuetenango from frost and enable coffee to grow at altitudes of 2,000 masl. Due to the high altitude, nearly all of Huehuetenango's producers process their own coffee. Fortunately, the region has rivers and streams in abundance, so mills can be placed almost anywhere.

With its rich volcanic soil, mountainous terrain, and varied micro-climates, Guatemala is a perfect country for coffee cultivation. Centuries of agricultural history have transformed Guatemala into the spectacular coffee origin it is today, and Guatemalan green coffee beans are the delight of roasters and coffee drinkers alike. With its wide array of growing regions, Guatemala encourages a diverse range of outstanding flavor profiles.

A Strictly Hard Bean (SHB) coffee grows at altitudes of 1,200 meters above sea level or higher. When coffee cherries grow at high altitudes, they tend to mature more slowly. This allows the fruit to take in more nutrients, resulting in denser, sweeter green coffee beans that are considered higher quality. Washed processing has become widely popular. The cup profile of washed coffees tends to reflect the terroir of the coffee. The processing method allows the growing conditions, the region, and the true character of the coffee to shine through.