GUATEMALA: WHERE NEW & OLD COME TOGETHER FOR A FRUITFUL CUP OF COFFEE
Coined the “Land of the Eternal Spring,” Guatemala is treasured for its wonderful weather all year long. The climate is tropical – hot and humid in the lowlands and cooler in the highlands. Two east-west mountain trails divide the land into three regions: the mountainous highlands, the Pacific coast south of the mountains, and the northern Peten lowlands. Because Guatemala is located along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquakes lining the Pacific Ocean, the country is no stranger to the Earth’s raw conditions.
Guatemalan culture is enriched by the Mayan Empire that influenced agriculture, pottery, hieroglyph writing, calendar making, and more. You can witness the breathtaking ruins in the jungles of the northern and central highlands where the Mayans’ geometric architecture is a window to their artistic visions.
The ethnic diversity of Mayan, European, and Caribbean influences within the Guatemalan people manifests in their many languages and lifestyles throughout the country. Still, there is a wealth divide between the urbanized mestizos population, Guatemalans of Spanish and indigenous descent, and the Mayan villagers in the rural highlands. Unlike most of the New World, however, the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors did not completely suppress the culture and way of life of the indigenous people. Both the Mayan and Spanish cultures are celebrated, echoing the beauties that exist when the old world intertwines with the new.
On top of the country’s rich history and brightly colored streets, it is also celebrated for its sweet coffee. In the late 18th century, coffee came to Guatemala with the arrival of European immigrants who were motivated to establish plantations by the Guatemalan government. The country was exporting close to 300 million pounds of coffee yearly by the late 1800s.
Guatemala’s coffee-producing regions all have distinct geographical profiles that are shaped by varieties and microclimate. On the outskirts of the town of San Cristobal Verapaz lies the farm, Flor del Rosario – 550 acres of coffee trees and blooming flowers. The beauty of this coffee is no different than that of the farm. A citric explosion balanced with notes of deep chocolate and caramel reflect the character of the region where this coffee is grown.
The warm enthusiasm that goes into every bean reflects the tales of a land that make this cup worthwhile.
Explore our Guatemalan coffee here!
Header Photo Credit: Cafe Imports
