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Map Guatemala


As people mention other coffees to be either the best or the most exceptional, Guatemala is known as the most favored coffee in all the world. Why? Guatemala offers coffee that is smooth and sweet and often possessing hints of flavors that make the particular beans unique even to other Guatemalan coffees, i.e., spicy, chocolate, cinnamon and smokey. Holland Coffee has cultivated relationships with some of the finest Estates in Guatemala.

 

The growing regions such as San Marcos, Fraijanes, Atitlan, Antigua, Coban, and Huehuetenango assist in categorizing the country by wildly different growing conditions based on soil, climate and agricultural practices. Because of these differences, Holland Coffee can take advantage of these many varied characteristics to locate coffees that best represent true qualities in the cup. These qualities are compared year after year for consistency. It is up to the grower/Estate to maintain a consistently clean product. Holland has spent many years cupping coffees from these different regions and has discovered great coffees within them. Come share with us in the riches of Guatemala!

Las Nubes EstateLas Nubes Estate
Owned and operated by Holland Coffee Group

Around 1830 an American Pioneer, William Nelson, traveled to Guatemala and arrived at the side of a hillock that the local Mayan Indians called "Pecul," near the small village of San Francisco Zapotitlan. Since time immemorial the luxuriant and pristine vegetation of "Pecul" has provided shelter to the exotic quetzal, Guatemala's national bird.

1876 Photo of Las Nubes Plantation

 

Besides the awesome scenery, Nelson found optimal natural conditions to grow coffee. As a result, a coffee plantation was founded. It was named "Las Nubes" a Spanish name which means "The Clouds". The adventurer Eadweard J. Muybridge left a remarkable visual testimony of Las Nubes beginnings, through a series of photographs taken in 1875. Since 1840, "Las Nubes" has been home to the best and most exclusive coffee of Guatemala.

Both Las Nubes "Muybridge" and Genuine "Las Nubes" are unique and wonderful estate Strictly Hard Bean coffees. "Muybridge" a blend of beans grown from 3,500 to 4,500 hundred feet, delivers a cup with a wonderful floral aroma, good body, excellent acidity, and a sweet citrus aftertaste. Genuine "Las Nubes" is a unique, invigorating, and original estate coffee, fully sun dried and born from original Bourbon and Typica trees between 4,500 and 6,000 feet above sea level.

 

Both coffees are sown, nurtured, and harvested with love - the love of each and every one of the 1,000 dedicated people who work at the plantation. These men and women live at Las Nubes under the best working and social conditions. Furthermore, Genuine SHB Las Nubes coffee is grown in accordance with strict quality standards. These standards guarantee a first-class and limited production of this splendid coffee. Such are the conditions and environment in which Genuine SHB Las Nubes is cultivated; the choice of connoisseurs and the most demanding people. Some call Las Nubes the Rothschild of Coffees.

Quetzal, Guatemala's National bird

 

A Way for Preserving Nature
Las Nubes plantation is one of the few natural reserves still existing in Guatemala where the quetzal live undisturbed along with white-tailed deer, zaraguate monkeys, spotted cavies and other endangered species. To ensure their survival, a wide-range conservation program has been implemented. In Las Nubes we have made a commitment to permanently preserve the flora and fauna that thrive in the region, and to promote ways of life that are in harmony with nature.

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Social Concern
Las Nubes has a special interest for the well-being of all individuals working in the community. For that reason, the management provides medical assistance, schooling, housing, and other important services.

 

Genuine SHB Las Nubes is cultivated at a higher altitude than conventional types of coffee, and nurtured by rich volcanic soil, which gives the grains its unparalleled flavor and bouquet. Las Nubes is a blue-green variety of coffee, produced to be exported to the most demanding markets. It renders an excellent roast. A balanced cup of coffee with a very fine bouquet, accentuated body, and excellent acidity.

 

Enjoy a photographic tour of Las Nubes Estate in 1876 and today.
FACTS AND STATS
Population: 9 million people
Coffee Export: 3.6 Mio. bags of 69 Kgs.
Cultivated Area: 265,000 Ha (636,000 acres)
Harvest: September - April
Farms: 33,000
Botanical Varieties: Arabigo, Bourbon, Typica, Catura, Catuai, Catimur, Maragogype, Robusta

Coffees from Guatemala: Drying Coffee on Patio
Genuine Antigua Estates
SHB Regional Estates From Huenhuetenango / Fraijanes / Atitlan / San Marcos / Coban
SHB Pacific Bourbon "Las Nubes" (A Holland Coffee Exclusive - 100% Bourbon / Nutriclean Certified)
SHB Organic Estates / 'La Concha' / 'El Chorro' / 'Magnolia'

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