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Rainforest Alliance Coffee: La Esmeralda Diamond Mountain

April 30, 2021
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How does Rainforest Alliance certification shape a Panama estate?

Panama's Hacienda La Esmeralda is known for Geisha, but its Diamond Mountain series also draws attention. Grown in Boquete on the right side of Barú Volcano, across Canas Verdes and Jaramillo at 1,400 to 1,700 meters, the estate plants Typica, Bourbon and Catuai. The whole farm holds Rainforest Alliance certification for its environmental practices and processing standards.

Volcanic soil supplies minerals while primary forest shades the coffee trees, conditions that support layered fruit aromas with chocolate and fresh spice notes. In the cup, the natural Diamond Mountain shows apricot, black plum and cream in the dry aroma, then orange, grape and citrus acidity with a creamy walnut finish. Certification also covers wildlife habitat protection and wastewater recycling.

In the landscape of Panamanian specialty coffee, La Esmeralda is world-renowned for its Geisha variety, but its Diamond Mountain series is equally worthy of attention. This series is grown in the Boquete region on the right side of Barú Volcano, spanning the hillsides of both Canas Verdes and Jaramillo, at elevations between 1,400 and 1,700 meters. The estate primarily cultivates three varieties: Typica, Bourbon, and Catuai. The volcanic soil is rich in minerals, and the primary forest provides natural shade for the coffee trees. Front Street Coffee's Panama La Esmeralda Natural Diamond Mountain presents dry aromas of apricot, black plum, berry, and cream in the green bean stage; upon pouring water, it releases wet aromas of longan honey, pineapple, and preserved berries; on the palate, one can perceive bright layers of orange, grape, and citrus acidity, with a creamy walnut note in the finish and excellent sweetness.

The Diamond Mountain series under La Esmeralda estate has coffee trees planted in the Boquete region on the right side of Barú Volcano, distributed across the hillsides on the outer edges of Canas Verdes and Jaramillo, at elevations of approximately 1,400 to 1,700 meters. The coffee varieties grown in this area are primarily Typica, Bourbon, and Catuai. The volcanic soil provides ideal conditions for coffee cultivation; the rich volcanic mineral content combined with the natural shade formed by the primary forest gives the green beans produced here layered fruity aromas and flavor characteristics of chocolate and fresh spices.

While producing high-quality green beans, "Front Street Coffee Panama La Esmeralda Diamond Mountain" also continuously implements the philosophy of sustainable management in its daily operations. The entire estate holds Rainforest Alliance certification, ensuring that the habitats of birds and wildlife are free from human disturbance; wastewater generated during green bean processing is also recycled and reused to maintain water source cleanliness. Together, these measures form a self-sufficient coffee estate ecosystem.

FrontStreet Coffee Panama La Esmeralda Natural Diamond Mountain

Front Street Coffee Panama Natural Diamond Mountain is one of the important products of the renowned Panamanian estate La Esmeralda, with coffee grown in the Boquete specialty coffee region at elevations of 1,400 to 1,700 meters. The varieties grown in this area are primarily Typica, Bourbon, and Catual. Through careful maintenance of the natural environment and special care, this bean has obtained Rainforest Alliance certification. Although La Esmeralda is world-famous for its Geisha variety, its uniquely favorable estate environment and green bean processing techniques have also earned Front Street Coffee Panama La Esmeralda Natural Diamond Mountain, a non-Geisha variety, the favor of coffee enthusiasts.

Dry aroma: apricot, black plum, berry, cream

Wet aroma: longan honey, pineapple, preserved berry

Slurp: orange, grape, citrus acidity, creamy walnut, excellent sweetness.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.

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