Mexico NKG Bloom El Buho is grown in Los Altos, the northeast highlands of Chiapas. Los Altos is a two-hour drive from the capital city of San Cristobal de las Casas, which is celebrated for its culture, cuisine and magical ambiance. The land here is spotted by preserved primary forests, bordering the Lacoandona jungle. It's a lush and fertile area where many Mayan ancestors settled.
Tzeltales (Winik Atel) are one such group of indigenous descendants, living self-governed in this remote region. Here, they struggle to preserve their traditions and culture (most speak Tzeltal as their first language), however they lack access to medical assistance, formal education and poverty levels are high. They are the producers of Mexico NKG Bloom El Buho, growing their coffee with sustainable practices in the shade of native species.
NKG Bloom
These producers are enrolled in the NKG Bloom initiative, a global effort to end poverty in the coffee supply chain by empowering producers to run their farms at full potential. NKG BLOOM offers producers custom service packages that may include financing, high-quality inputs, seedlings, agronomy and business training, information services, access to markets and new coffee technologies.
Please visit the Exportadora de Cafe California (ECC) site to learn more about Por Mas Café (the ECC program that predates and laid the groundwork for NKG Bloom), the official page of the initiative to learn more about NKG BLOOM, or this quick blog post to learn about how ECC inspired and informed the global NKG BLOOM effort.
El Buho
Mexico NKG Bloom El Buho is named for the owl or tecolotl, a symbolically significant animal for the Mayan ancestors of those who produce the coffee today. It is believed that Najuales (shapeshifting witches) were charmed by owls to safeguard their culture. The design chosen for this brand pays homage to the Alebrije, an animal that helps humans cross from this world to the next, marking the completion of their spiritual journey.
Cupping notes: Peach, melon, pear, maple; bright acidity, juicy body.
