Organic Mexico Chiapas
From Co-operative ISMAM
Soconusco regions of Chiapas State Highlands.
Bright and sweet, this coffee's crisp and vibrant citrus tones sparkle on the tip of the tongue, while subtle milk chocolate notes combine for a smooth, satisying finish. This is a wonderful, delicate and flavourful cup that delights with its fleeting bright notes and zesty tones. Best enjoyed black or with just the smallest dash of milk. Excellent - and our favourite - well chilled and served as an iced coffee.
Produced by a co-operative of native Mayan farms called the Indigenous Peoples of the Sierra Madre of Motozintla (ISMAM) located in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. ISMAM is organized on egalitarian democratic ideals that stress responsibility to the Co-operative, hard work and high standards.
This programme helps the communities in many ways and was created to meet the problems of low productivity, poor marketing conditions and extreme poverty of farm families. By adopting organic techniques and improving quality the Co-operative was able to move into a privileged speciality market that rewarded their extra effort towards ecologically sound production. Each farmer gets paid on a work-share basis and not how much each individual smallholder yields.
The farmers work in groups of 10, with each group electing one representative annually to the Co-operative's congress. Total respect is afforded to this way of work because it increases the value of the overall harvest as smallholdings must be achieve organic certification before they join. The message from ISMAM is threefold. Ensuring the sustained production of speciality grade coffee; conserving and rebuilding the natural environment wherever possible; and working towards a better quality of life for the indigenous campesinos and their families.