Gesha
Natural El Velo
Hacienda La Esmeralda

Tastes Like: Rose, Passionfruit, Muscat Rouge

Origin: El Velo, Hacienda La Esmeralda, Panama

Variety: Gesha

Producer: The Peterson Family

Elevation: 1,650-1,900 masl

Process:  Natural

Farm and Producer

El Velo is one of the newest of Hacienda La Esmeralda’s farms, purchased in 2012. This 50 hectare farm is the only one where the flat landscape allows a more uniform pattern, in rows. The farm is planted with Geisha and Catuai varieties, as well as with smaller lots of exotic varieties like Laurina, Pacamara and SL-34. In addition there are some 400+ other accessions, which are part of Esmeralda’s research initiatives, and were obtained from CATIE.

The farm is planted from 1,650-1,900 masl, although the nature reserve continues up the mountain all the way to 2,900 masl, and is home to the famous Quetzal and other endangered birds.

Variety

Gesha, also spelled Geisha, is an Arabica variety with Ethiopian origins. It is valued for high cup-quality potential and floral aromatics, especially under suitable high-elevation growing conditions. Its expression also depends on cultivation, processing, and roasting.

Processing

Natural processing dries the coffee with the cherry surrounding the seed. Contact with the fruit during fermentation and drying can contribute to fruit expression and body; careful moisture management remains important.