Costa Rica's first organic certified coffee estate-Las Haras Estate

Although coffee production in Central America is not high, many coffee-producing countries are famous for producing high-quality coffee. Among them, Costa Rica is rich in natural resources, grows high-quality coffee, and creates a characteristic honey treatment, which makes the coffee beans sweet and rich.

As a result, there are many well-known coffee estates in Costa Rica, such as San Isidro Labrador (Hacienda San Isidro Labrador) and Mirazu (Milasu), many of which come from the largest and most famous coffee producing area in the country, Tarrazu. But other coffee producing areas, although not as well known as Tarazu, can also produce high-quality coffee beans, as well as poor coffee estates, such as Finca Las Lajas in the Central Valley (Central Valle).

Finca Las Lajas, located in the Sabanilla area of Alajuela, not far from the capital, grows coffee 1300-1650 meters at the foot of the Poas volcano. Alajuela is one of the three major producing areas in the Central Valley. Affected by volcanic ash, it has a very fertile and mineral-filled soil, which is very suitable for the growth of coffee trees.

In addition, this is the most unique climate region of Costa Rica, which is like spring all the year round, with very clear rainy and dry seasons. During the rainy season, the total rainfall can reach 3000 mm, the average temperature is 20 °C, and there is sufficient sunshine time.

La Halas Manor has a coffee-growing history of more than 80 years and is currently owned by a third-generation husband and wife, Francesca Francisca and Oscar Chac ó n. In 1995, the father of Oscar, the landowner, died of cancer. They suspected that long-term exposure and use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on the farm had aggravated the illness. So they began to give up chemical fertilizers and switch to natural and homemade fertilizers, growing coffee under the shade of native forests, and using natural farming methods that protect the ecological environment. After five years of organic cultivation, Las Haras Manor became the first organic certified manor in Costa Rica in 2000, and currently it has passed several organic certifications such as Jas in Japan, USDA and NOP in the United States.

The couple have been trying to improve the flavor of the coffee in the manor. Initially, most Costa Rican coffee beans were washed, and the couple began to study and improve many of the equipment on the estate to better meet the needs of sun and honey-treated coffee. As a result, La Lajas Manor became one of the earliest manors to systematically study and deal with sun and honey treatment.

In addition, the owner of the estate also introduced the sugar meter (Brix meter) often equipped by the wine industry to screen the coffee fruits that reached the standard, determined the best harvest time and treatment method according to the sugar content of Brix, and set up their own processing plant to improve the overall coffee quality of the estate.

At present, many varieties of coffee are grown in Las Haras, including Kaddura, Catuai and Villa Sarchi, as well as SL28 and Obata. The estate has always been committed to environmental protection and sustainable production, and through different treatments to promote Costa Rican coffee, to mention the international influence.

For more information about coffee producing areas, please scan the code directly and follow: coffee comments.

Long press the QR code to follow: