MEXICO - CHIAPAS / FTO

FTO stands for Fair Trade and Organic. This coffee is produced by the farmers of the cooperative Comon Yaj Noptic, which was founded in May 1995 and is based in Chiapas, Mexico. The farms are located in the Zona de la Frailesca, or “region of the monks,” in the Sierra Madre mountains in the southern part of Chiapas. In the 19th century, many Europeans built farms in this area, however in recent years Mexico has redistributed much of the land back to the ¨ejidos,¨ or local communities. Farmers in the Comon Yaj Noptic cooperative live and grow coffee on this ejido land.

The farmers are committed to protecting the surrounding natural resources, and they have support from environmental organizations such as Conservation International to continue reducing their impact in the region, an area which includes El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve. Comon Yaj Noptic coffee is grown under a shade canopy consisting of 70 percent endemic forest trees and 30 percent traditional polyculture species, including citrus trees. Most members compost their own organic material to use as fertilizer and use dirt and plant barriers to conserve topsoil and prevent erosion on their own farms. 

Cupping Notes:

Complex taste with hints of spice; delicate & mild flavor with brisk citrus acidity.

/ Medium-Dark Roast.

Quick Facts:
Region: Chiapas
Country: Mexico
Producer: Comon Yaj Noptic cooperative

Varietal: Typica, Catuai
Elevation: 1,300 – 1,700m

The Region: Chiapas
Chiapas, the tropical jungle in southernmost Mexico, shares a border with Guatemala and is one of Mexico’s most rural and most marginalized states. Before the arrival of the Spanish, this region was rich in cocoa seeds, which the Aztecs used as currency in their empire. It was also the first region to produce coffee, which was originally introduced by an Italian immigrant. Today, Mexico is the fifth largest producer of coffee in the world. Although much of the original forest has been razed for agricultural purposes, the remaining natural areas are home to a diverse array of animals including jaguars, monkeys, tapirs, toucans, and parrots.