GUATEMALA Chq'Ul Sauco

TASTES OF:

mulling spice, citrus, caramel, chocolate

COUNTRY: Guatemala
REGION: Todos Santos Cuchumatán, Huehuetenango
FARM: Chq’Ul
FARMER/GROWER: Mauricio and Armando Gomez
VARIETIES: Bourbon, Typica, Pache, Catuai
PROCESSING: Washed
ALTITUDE: 1550-1900 m.a.s.l.

“Chq’ul” (pronounced ‘CH-KOOL’) means "the mountain" in the native Mam language of the Gomez family.

The small 2 hectare farm is located in the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes. The land receives 60-70 inches of water every year, and has a natural spring on the property.  

Armando Gomez started working with his grandfather when he was 23 years old. After his grandfather passed away, his sons took over the farm while Armando continued to work on the farm with them. In 1995, Armando Gomez was able to start buying the farm from his uncles and aunts. The entire family is involved with the production of coffee on the land. Armando's wife and oldest son Mauricio help him fertilize, plant, pick and wash the coffee. Mauricio has begun to take on more responsibility to take up the recently planted Bourbon, typica, pache and catuai varieties. The coffees are grown up to 1900 meters above sea level under shade trees, including the sauco (elderberry tree) after which this lot is named for.