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Honduras Coffee
Coffee farming in the nation of Honduras has been closely related to its history. Though it does not rank top in coffee production, Honduras is one of the countries producing delicious coffee beans that appeal to most of the worlds population. One of the factors hindering the country to export more coffee is absence of means to ship their coffee efficiently to other parts of the world. The fact that the country sometimes consumes up to ninety percent of their coffee makes people wonder whether they just want to enjoy their homely great value coffee domestically.
The country mainly practices small scale coffee growing with over 100,000 coffee growers. The country exports about six million coffee bags each every year.
Tasting of Honduras coffee
Though flavor varies with region, common ones are caramel and darker hints with light notes characterized by berries and tropical fruit hints. Sweet chocolaty flavors have also been associated with Honduras coffee beans.
Conditions for coffee growing in Honduras
Coffee growing regions in Honduras are characterized by high altitudes, rich volcanic soils and great weather: morning sunshine and afternoon rainfall. The temperatures are moderate which favors the cultivation of good quality coffee.
The country is prone to hurricanes that damage very high amounts of the crop. Another factor that faces coffee growers is roya, a coffee disease that affects the leaves- fungi like.
Processing Honduras coffee
Wet processing is popular in Honduras as opposed to dry processing. This process involves washing coffee beans using water to forcefully remove the cherry and then dries the beans. The method produce coffee with a lot of wonderful favors though it effects the environment since a lot of water is needed. After washing the coffee is graded depending on the altitude of where it was grown.
Regions where coffee is grown in Honduras
Agalta
This region lies in the south west region of the country. The climate is warmer and contains a lot of humidity which favors wet washing. The altitudes vary from 1100 to 1400 meters above sea level. The beans grown in this region are fruitier like with unique chocolaty aroma and profound sweetness.
Copan
The region lies along the western zone of the Honduras with elevations ranging from1000- 1500 meters above sea level. This region beans are known for their sweet flavor with hints of chocolaty and citrus or caramel notes.
Monticillos
The region highest altitudes are 1600 meter with cold nights which are believed to delay cherry ripening giving the coffee from this region a more enhanced fruiter and sweet taste. The coffees from this region in Honduras are revered for their flavor tastes with strong and numerous fruits notes.
El paraiso
It is located southern of Honduras nation with elevation of about 1400 meters above the sea level. The region is popular for receiving awards for their coffee production recently. Coffee beans from this region are characterized by sweetness with apple, blueberries, peaches, and notes of subtle jasmine.
Opalaca
The region is gifted with high altitudes of about 1500 meters above MSL. Major flavors of the coffee grown here are hints of berries and fruits with the most composite flavor. The region is east from Copan.
Comayagua
This region is in Honduras center with elevations of about 1000- 1500 meters above mean sea level. The coffee beans grown in this region have citrus hints, low acidity, with a sweet flavor.
Main features of coffee growing in Honduras
The major method of coffee beans processing is washing where natural processing is not common owing to it humid conditions.
Apricot, chocolate, berries; tropical fruits and caramel are the major flavors of Honduras coffee.
The average elevation of coffee growing is around 1500 meters above sea level.
Seventy percent of coffee farms in Honduras are managed by small families and have an area of less than two hectares.
Temperature varies with elevation and region with them varying from 16 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius.
The country is less fertile than other countries that grow coffee in America for instance Guatemala which has rich ash volcanic soils.
The main variety grown is Arabica: Caturra, Pacas, typica, Bourbon and Catuai.
Coffee and tourism in Honduras
Coffee plantations in Honduras are characterized by beautiful scenarios. Visitors are welcomed to view their coffee firms and processing procedures. Vast percentage of the Honduras coffee is grown under the cover of tree shades and other plants like bananas. The shade provide additional source of income. Coffee grown under the shading is popular for having the best tastes with less strong acids giving the consumers a special unique tasting cup of coffee.
Contribution of coffee to the economy
High coffee beans producing have attributed to a growing economy in Honduras. Availability of effective shipping methods has increased the countries exports making it the top most coffee producing nation in Honduras. This have in turn contributed to living standard improvement for the families producing coffee beans. As a result of the country becoming popular due to its high yields of coffee and for that reason good quality, the country have increased tourist visit from the world. Honduras coffee is becoming more appealing in the international market.
Why the wonderful taste
Most finely and high- end Honduras coffee beans are popular for their sweet and mild acid flavors which together offer the best cup of beverage. The soils are very rich, deep and dark thanks to the decayed vegetation providing soil cover and providing shading to the coffee plants. Use of artificial fertilizers is not necessary since the soil is humus rich giving the coffee the most natural flavors. If you are seeking organically grew coffee be sure to ask for Honduras coffee.
Challenges facing coffee growing in Honduras
Selling of coffee locally due to sufficient and functional abroad shipping methods has led to farmers lower returns. Other factors include Long time and a lot of resource investment has discouraged farmers. A coffee plant takes about four years for farmers to start getting results.
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