Origin and Cultural Significance

Our Chiapas Turquesa, or “turquoise,” takes its name from the precious blue-green gemstone that was revered by the Aztecs, Toltec, and other early Mexican cultures. This coffee comes from smallholder producers who deliver to the San Cristobal de las Casas and Yajalón buying stations in northern Chiapas, to the east and northeast of Tuxla Gutiérrez. The growing area, which sits at altitudes between 900 and 1,100 meters, is known for large bean sizes and a round, balanced cup with a smooth body — an ideal morning coffee.

For decades, Chiapas has been a center of political and ethnic conflicts. The Zapatista movement prevented large coffee farms from developing in the area, as it demanded indigenous rights and access to land. As a result, coffee cultivation is primarily managed by smallholders, often descendants of Indigenous tribes. These producers plant, harvest, and prepare the coffee by hand, putting immense effort into producing coffees they can take pride in, with each typically yielding between 10 and 15 bags.

Process

To help ensure fair pricing for producers, InterAmerican works closely with exporters who support these communities through various social projects. These exporters also use their own transportation infrastructure to bring the producers’ coffee to market.

The harvest season for Chiapas Turquesa is December through March. All coffee is received in parchment, quality-controlled, and transported to a high-tech dry mill in Veracruz. After a second quality check, the coffee is cleaned, milled, and sorted to prepare it for export. This coffee meets a strict quality-control standard, allowing only 15 imperfections per 300 grams.