Colombia Maria Gomez Washed Gesha

This wonderful gesha by Maria Gomez at 1550msl on her Buena Vista farm in Narino, Colombia has been pulped and undergone an aerobic 48h fermentation and then washed using a minimum of water after which it is then dried for 8 days on a Casa Elba. A Casa Elba is a method of drying beds with a retractable roof, usually built on top of the producer's house. This is an effective method of drying coffee. The best thing about this system is that beans could be easily protected from rain or high temperatures.

Taste description. White floral aroma. Pink lemonade, honeyed herbs, blood orange, toffee and a white tea & sparkling finish

STORY:

Maria Gomez is a lady who, at 87 years old, continues to work and enjoy the quiet life of the countryside. She is from the municipality of La Unión (Nariño), a place known for its diverse climates and where the culture of coffee is the central axis of the economy. Sitting in her hammock with infinite peace, she says she loves 3 things: having a good cup of coffee, feeding the little birds that come to her farm and working the land that she is so grateful for.

This is how she begins a story that seems to be about another person, the tranquillity that she carries in herself confuses us about her past, turning everything into a feeling of deep admiration.

”Since she was a child, she worked in the household chores. My parents didn't let me study, only until primary school. I wanted to study to be a telephone operator, dressmaker and be a teacher, but my parents just wanted me to work. I had to help raise my 8 siblings because I'm the oldest in the family.

Since they didn't give me anything at home, I got married, thinking that married life would be easier, but it was much harder. Sometime later my father-in-law with his children bought some land in Betulia in La Unión Nariño and we all came to live there, at that time there were no crops, only stubble, some cane, fruit trees and cassava. My husband grew cane for many years and then he started with coffee. At that time the wages were cheap and people worked hard. I had to make kitchens for up to 60 harvest workers. I had to work from three in the morning, they were very long days.

In this way we were able to buy the land on which I live today and another that we inherited, my husband only bought land and did not invest in the family, he lived very poorly, although with wealth from the countryside. My husband, like my parents, did not like his children to study but rather to dedicate themselves to work, for this reason I managed to get money and give them the study, of the 4 children, two are professionals, now they work and They take care of the house, we are united and we all live here. I have 5 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. ”

Today Mrs. María continues to work for pleasure on her Buena Vista farm, grateful for everything that coffee has changed and contributed to her life, day by day she dreams that her farm will be completely planted in geisha with a very good production and that the places where your coffee arrives know how to value all the work and love behind it.

FARM:  BUENA VISTA

REGION:  NARIÑO-LA UNION

ALTITUDE:  1550 MSL

AREA:   8 ½HECTARES

SHADE:   WALNUT TREES, MANGO, BANANA, CARBONERO

PROCESS

• STEP 1 MANUAL COLLECTION OF MATURE GRAIN
• STEP 2 PULL THE SAME DAY OF COLLECTION
• STEP 3 FERMENTATION FOR 2 DAYS IN CEMENT TANK
• STEP 4 WASH 1 TIME WITH LITTLE WATER
• STEP 5 DRYING FOR 8 DAYS IN CASA ELBA - TEMPERATURE BELOW 40°