Honduras | Benjamin Paz | Geisha | Anaerobic Washed

Origin

• 🇭🇳 Honduras

Tasting notes

Character

• Experimental
  50
• Funky
  40

Region: Concepcion del Sur, Santa Barbara Elevation: 1650 - 1850 masl About: It’s difficult to know where to begin when talking about Benjamin Paz. He is a coffee producer, exporter, community leader, and an ambassador for Honduran coffee, as well as a central figure connecting many producer and roaster relationships. We are fortunate to also call him a friend. Benjamin’s farm, Finca La Salsa, is planted with varieties not typically associated with Honduras, including Panamanian GeishaGesha (Geisha)A rare, jasmine-and-bergamot scented variety originally from Ethiopia's Gesha forest, made famous by Panama's Hacienda La Esmeralda. Routinely the most expensive coffee at auction. and SL-28SL28A Kenyan variety selected in the 1930s by Scott Agricultural Laboratories, prized for intense blackcurrant acidity and deep sweetness.. Situated high on the slopes around Lake Yojoa , the farm is often covered in dense mist. This cool, shaded microclimate slows cherry maturation and contributes to a notably sweet cup profile. The story of Panamanian Geisha in Santa Barbara is closely linked to Proud Mary. Over several visits, Proud Mary founder Nolan Hirte brought seeds from some of Panama’s most renowned farms, which were later planted throughout the region. As a result, Benjamin’s Geisha shares the same genetic lineage as some of the world’s most celebrated examples. This has been reflected in his success at the Cup of ExcellenceCup of Excellence (COE)A national competition and auction that identifies a country's best lots each year; winning 'COE' lots command dramatic price premiums., with five consecutive top-five finishes, including two first-place wins. This Anaerobic WashedAnaerobic fermentationCherries or depulped seeds ferment in sealed, oxygen-free tanks. Produces intense, unusual flavors — cinnamon, bubblegum, boozy fruit — that divide opinion. Geisha comes from the same section of the farm that has produced many of Benjamin’s standout competition coffees.