San Antonio Chicharras
In the Motozintla area within the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico, there are high altitudes and rich soils ideal for coffee production. It is here where Finca San Antonio Chicharras has been growing coffee since the early 1900s. The land is diverse, situated in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountain range, growing both Arabica and Robusta coffee, in addition to a protected natural area of 20 hectares.
- Farm San Antonio Chicharras
- Varietal Marsellesa
- Process Natural
- Altitude 1,000 to 1,200 metres above sea level
- Town / City Motozintla, Sierra Madre de Chiapas
- Region Chiapas
- Owner Teddy Esteve & family
- Tasting Notes Dried Fruits, almond, milk chocolate
- Farm Size 400 hectares
Coffee first arrived in Mexico in the late 1700s, introduced by Spanish settlers. These days the country produces a significant amount of coffee, though its place as a producer of coffee on a global scale has been significantly diminished due to the entry of untraditional Arabica producers on the scene and, in particular, due to crop losses due to coffee leaf rust. Although the country is one of the foremost exporters of certified coffee (both organic and fair trade), the specialty market for quality is yet to make significant inroads here. This is not because Mexico lacks potential for producing quality lots: the country boasts a huge number of growing regions with agreeable altitudes and climates, as well as hundreds of thousands of experienced, well-established small-scale farmers. With more than 600 thousand hectares in 12 states under primarily Arabica coffee production, Mexico has great untapped potential for the production of specialty lots.