Introduction to Honduras 2024 COE Champion La Salsa Estate

In Central America, due to suitable geographical conditions, many countries grow coffee, such as El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras and so on. Honduras is currently the second largest coffee exporter in Central America and the tenth largest coffee exporter in the world.

Honduras Honduras

Honduras is located in the north of Central America, more than 3/4 of the country is mountainous and plateau, only the coastal areas are plains, inland are basically plateaus and valleys, and forests account for half of the country's area.

The country has a tropical climate and the coastal plains have a tropical rain forest climate, with an average annual temperature of 23 ℃, abundant rainfall, complex mountainous terrain and mild temperatures, which make the country very suitable for coffee cultivation.

Coffee producing area

In 1970, the Honduran Coffee Institute (IHCAFE) was established to help local coffee farmers improve their planting techniques and quality, and was divided into six producing areas, namely, Copan, Opalaca, Montecilos, Conayagua, Agalta Tropical and El paraiso, with an average elevation of more than 1100 meters. November to March is the picking season every year.

COE (Cup of Excellence) is one of the most authoritative boutique coffee competitions in the world, and it is also the first Internet auction platform for award-winning coffee in the world, so many countries will hold COE, which makes Honduran producers have more contact with the international community and become famous.

Honduras is no exception, and 2024 is the 20th anniversary of Honduras hosting the Excellence Cup. In this COE competition, the Obalaka region is more outstanding, with 8 of the top 10 from the producing area.

Obalaca District (Opalaca): located between Santa B á rbara in Santa Barbara, Intibuc á in Intibuka and Lempira in Lompira, it has very delicate acidity, overall balance, taste of tropical fruits such as grapes, mulberries, etc., with a strong lemon flavor, neutralized with honey and caramel sweetness, with obvious fruit flavor, 1100-1700 meters above sea level, with annual precipitation of 1350-1900 mm. La Salsa Manor, from the Obalaka producing area, won the COE championship in 2024 with a score of 91.21.

La Salsa Manor La Salsa

The estate, currently located in San Barbara, Santa Barbara, 1680 meters above sea level, is owned by Benjamin Paz Mu ñ oz. This is not the first time Benjamin has won the championship, winning the COE championship in 2022.

Benjamin currently grows many varieties in La Salsa, such as Bourbon Bourbon, Ironpickup Typica, Pacas Pacas, SL28 and Rosa Geisha, and operates the San Vicente coffee processing plant with his cousins Arturo Paz and Fidel Paz, which is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to ensure the production of high quality coffee beans. In addition, Benjamin will help local bakers and growers to improve the quality of coffee grown in the San Barbara Mountains of Santa Barbara.