El Salvador Monte Sion 2015

June Arrivals

A lot has been going on during the past couple of years with El Salvadorian coffees. You might have heard of the devastating leaf rust and the  implications on labour, coffee quality and the wider socio-economic effects. A lot of people questioned whether the region would recover.

Monte Sion was not unaffected but far better placed than most to adapt, protect and regenerate their farms.

The text below is from Lilliana Narvez from the Monte Sion Estate. It's an extract from a discussion we had regarding their renewal and processing methods at the Monte Sion Estate. 

Monte Sion

Renewal is an ongoing process……
‘ So far we have around 60% of our Monte Sion renewed. This year we are going to plant 25000 plants boosting renovation of this farm to around 75%’

The farm is planted with Bourbon strains and should start to produce their first coffee cherry crop in three years’ time. Cherry processing..  semi washed.

‘The coffees are passed through the pulpers and then sent to the fermentation tanks. Coffees are semi washed, being placed in the fermentation tanks for 2 hours. This is different to the fully washed method where the coffees are fermented from 12-18 hours (maturity and climate dependent).'

 After the fermentation, coffees are washed in clean water, then laid out to dry on patios.