Los Santos (formerly Tarrazú), Costa Rica

The Saints, formerly known as Tarrazu, is a coffee region in Costa Rica which produces some of the most exquisite coffee beans in the world. Allow me to immerse you in the aromatic and gustatory details of this region:

• Location and names: Los Santos is located in the southwestern area of Costa Rica. Its cantons are named after saints: Saint Paul of Leon Cortés, San Marcos de Tarrazu and Saint Mary of Dota.
• Coffee growing: Coffee production is the backbone of the economy in Los Santos. Its lands, protected by mountain ranges on the Pacific slope, are home to small valleys and mountain slopes where coffee flourishes.
• Coffee varieties: The coffee plantations of Los Santos mainly grow the varieties Caturra and Catuai, which produce small, flat, bluish grains. These grains are known as Strictly Hard Bean (SHB) due to its hardness.
• Altitude and soils: Coffee production is among the 1,200 and 1,900 meters altitude. The soils, mostly of sedimentary origin, are acidic. Many plantations grow under shade, with local and foreign trees.
• Climate: Los Santos experiences a seven-month rainy season (May to November) and a dry season (December to April). This variation favors the flowering of coffee.
• Organoleptic characteristics: The combination of altitude, climate and cultivated varieties results in a coffee with good body, a cup of high acidity, excellent aroma and an intense flavor with slightly chocolatey touches.
• Harvest: Harvesting takes place over five months, November to March, coinciding with the dry season. This allows for uniform ripening and high quality fruit.

In short, Los Santos/Tarrazú coffee is a treasure for specialty coffee lovers. Its distinctive flavor and smooth acidity make it a gem in cups around the world. ☕🌿