Coffee, Culture, And A Cause For Celebration - Exploring the Coffee Communities Of El Salvador, Honduras, And Mexico
Here in the states, coffee is a daily part of life for many people.
Most coffee drinkers can attest to enjoying a daily routine which includes quiet moments, or even busy mornings, that incorporate slow (or hurried) sips.
Here, coffee also plays a social role, with local cafes and coffee houses serving as common meeting places for friends and colleagues.
And, American coffee connoisseurs commonly recognize cities in the US which have contributed to our coffee culture - such as Seattle, New York, Portland, and San Francisco.
But, American coffee love, knowledge, and culture pales in comparison to those regions where coffee is truly part of everyday life, those places where coffee has not only shaped the industry as a whole but where this beloved bean is woven into nearly every part of life, culture, and society.
Yes, in countries like El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico, regions where coffee is not only consumed, but grown, java isn’t merely a loved commodity, but a major part of what makes these countries and communities so special!
So, sit back and enjoy some slow sips of your favorite Lifeboost brew as we take a fun, informative journey to these three unique Latin American countries (El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico) where we’ll take a look at how these communities have contributed to the coffee industry as a whole, learn some fun and interesting facts about Latin American culture, and more!
Coffee Industry Impacts
Latin America is made up of 33 countries, many of which have shaped the coffee industry as we know it.
In turn, the coffee industry has also served to shape the economy, culture, social life, and even the physical landscape of many Latin American countries.
Today, we’ll be taking a look at three of these nations individually - Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador - highlighting each country’s journey to their now global impacts on the coffee industry.
Mexico
Spanish settlers are said to have first introduced coffee to Mexico in the late 1700’s in Veracruz.
However, while crops were highly successful here, other commodities ultimately took precedence, and thus the local indigenous communities became the primary producers of java.
And, if you’re a fan of coffee, of truly great tasting, healthy coffee, then this shift in primary ownership is a significant one.
This transition moved coffee production from large plantations to small, family-owned farms in Mexico, a switch that is thankfully still evident today.
Since this time, the Mexican coffee industry has been characterized by smallholder farms and family establishments, a model which we now know lends to a high quality product, with standards more easily controlled throughout the growing process.
Because of this, Mexico is one of the world’s foremost exporters of certified coffee, organic and fair trade to be precise, and the future looks very bright for the region as the country is considered to be an untapped area as it pertains to specialty coffee lots.
Mexican coffee producers have had a hard fought battle to reach this success, with price volatility and little to no access to credit, markets, or tech support keeping growth down.
But, recent years have brought hope as the Mexican government “has begun to invest more in the coffee industry, leading to farmers having easier access to education on soil quality, crop maintenance,” and more.
Today, 90% of coffee produced in Mexico comes from the southern half of the country, and nearly 97% of all coffee grown here is Arabica.
And, this is where governmental support is helping farmers…
Arabica coffee varieties are commonly known to be susceptible to coffee leaf rust, a fungus which is devastating to any coffee crop.
Rising rainfall totals in recent years have contributed to conditions which make leaf rust common, even rampant in some areas, and this has led to losses and a devaluing of the quality of coffee crops.
With the support small plantation farmers are now receiving, as they learn of the steps necessary to combat such natural hindrances, new disease-resistant varieties are being grown which may positively impact total yields and overall profits to keep these family farms thriving.
Honduras
Coffee is said to have first been introduced by traders to Honduras in the 1880’s. And, until recently, nearly all of the market here was commercial.
Even as recently as the 1990’s, while neighboring countries began making a name for themselves in quality specialty coffee, Honduras was considered to be “left behind” in these areas of coffee production.
With fertile soil, ideal altitude, and agreeable microclimates, Honduras certainly possessed great potential for producing truly amazing coffee, but a lack of processing and quality control, not to mention destruction by way of natural disasters, seemed to keep the country below the bar.
It wasn’t until government-imposed export taxes were implemented in the 2000’s that coffee farmers in Honduras began to see more funds allocated to the country’s coffee infrastructure.
Even the United States government has helped the coffee industry here by aiding in both production expansion and infrastructure improvements.
With these changes, primarily the placement of roads in remote coffee growing areas, farmers began to see hope for great growth in the industry.
Today, Honduras ranks 5th, globally, in terms of coffee production.
The country is the third largest coffee producer in Latin America, and they top the charts as the largest producer in Central America.
More than 100,000 families in Honduras are involved in coffee production, 90% of which are small scale farmers, growing coffee on less than 2 hectares (each farm).
One problem facing generational coffee growers around the world is age, a factor hindering long term sustainability for the industry.
But, Honduras has proven to be an anomaly here, with the average age of Honduran coffee farmers being 10 years younger than global averages.
Investments and promotions in the area are seeking to keep this average age low, ensuring a lasting history for coffee producers in Honduras by expanding interests beyond coffee plantations, including training in cupping and careers in coffee quality control.
Now, in the 21st century, Honduras has seemingly come full circle, using its fertile soils and unique growing conditions to greatly expand its production of specialty coffee. In fact, the country now leads the industry amongst Central American producers!
El Salvador
Much of El Salvador’s impact on the coffee industry can be attributed to the country’s founding fathers.
By 1846, coffee was already being grown in El Salvador, but between 1857-1863, a few events took place that would secure the country’s entrance and position as a global contributor.
First, the country enacted a law providing coffee farmers with a 7-year tax break on all production.
Then, coffee farmers and workers received a ten-year exemption from military service.
Both of these ‘breaks’ for coffee farmers encouraged rapid growth in the industry.
But, when the US and El Salvador entered into a commercial trade treaty, this along with a series of laws put into place by the country’s leader at the time, seemed to “super charge the coffee industry.”
These implementations allowed for the establishment of El Salvador’s first coffee plantations in the Apaneca-Ilamatepec mountain range, the epicenter of the nation’s coffee production.
With ripe growing conditions and the government on their side, El Salvador soon became known for their high-quality, shade-grown, specialty Arabica coffee, and with global recognition for such excellence, El Salvadoran coffee growers certainly didn’t relax their efforts.
The high standards for the nation’s coffee production only seemed to increase with such recognition, and coffee farmers grew in passion for their craft.
Soon, the Cup of Excellence debuted in El Salvador in 2003, a program aimed at helping farmers receive greater funds for high quality coffee, and family farmers here have continued to hone their efforts, gaining recognition for dedication and production of top-tier coffee.
The country hasn’t been without its fair share of challenges, both from social unrest and economic fluctuations.
But, farmers have risen to these challenges by implementing sustainable growing practices, embracing agroforestry, and mitigating climate change by planting shade trees to enhance biodiversity and keep the country’s reputation as one of the greatest places in the world for growing coffee in the shade (95% of their coffee is shade-grown).
Today, El Salvador is the fourth largest producer of coffee in the world, and their ongoing desire for excellence will no doubt see their powerful contributions to the industry continue to improve!
Where Coffee Meets Culture
In the above section, we dug through some facts, history, economics, etc., you know, essentially the business side of things.
But now, let’s get a little less formal and have some fun.
Like any country or community, these Latin American coffee nations are known for and even shaped by culture.
And personally, I believe the cultural aspects and nuances of any society are those very things that make each nation unique and special.
So, instead of separating each nation as we did in the section above, let’s just take a broad and exciting, less formal, look at those things that make these three nations so wonderful!
Broadly speaking, coffee is such an integral part of Latin American culture that most people begin drinking java as children.
The most common coffee drink served to children is cafe con leche, a mixture of espresso and scalded milk.
Coffee is also commonly served during religious celebrations and ceremonies in these regions, such as Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), where loved ones who’ve passed on are honored and celebrated.
The founder of Mayorga Coffee has said that coffee is such an important part of everyday Latin American culture that it is nearly as common as beans and tortillas!
Of course, there’s much more to Latin American culture than coffee…
Did you know there are actually more pyramids in Mexico than in Egypt?
That’s right, while we commonly think of Egypt as the primary pyramid locale, Mexico is home to more than 60 Aztec and Mayan pyramids.
El Salvador, on the other hand, is home to multiple volcanoes!
Known as the Land of Volcanoes, El Salvador has more than 100 volcanoes, twenty of which are potentially active.
Both Honduras and Mexico share a spectacular wonder, as the Mesoamerican Reef, the world’s second largest coral reef, spans across their coastlines.
Actually, the reef stretches far beyond these two coastlines, spanning over 700 miles and housing turtles, manatees, whale sharks, and more than 500 species of fish!
Moving indoors…
Do you enjoy color tv?
Most of us today are so accustomed to seeing our favorite shows in color, we forget that this is a fairly recent advancement.
But, did you know that color tv was invented in Mexico?
Engineer Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena, in 1963, saw his invention “change television forever when channel 5 aired a kid’s show in color.”
And in Honduras, you can be sure that any color tv viewings are enjoyed in smoke free homes as this was the first nation to ban smoking in your own home.
If you visit a home in El Salvador, it’s likely that you’ll notice a hammock hung on the porch. In fact, so many homes in El Salvador enjoy this relaxing nap staple that the San Salvador Valley is nicknamed “The Valley of the Hammocks.”
In Honduras, a sight local are familiar with is what’s known as a Chicken bus. While the buses don’t actually house or transport chickens, they are easily identified by their brightly painted colors, described as “a party on wheels.”
The American media has often portrayed Cinco de Mayo as Mexico’s Independence Day, so you may be shocked to learn that this isn’t actually true.
While Cinco de Mayo commemorates the battle of Puebla, where Mexican forces defeated the French army, this country’s true Independence Day is accurately celebrated in September.
Actually, many Latin American countries celebrate Independence Day in September, so we’d like to close things out by taking a look at these celebrations in each of the countries we’ve been privileged to highlight in our discussion today.
A Cause For Celebration
September is a celebratory month for coffee industry kings Mexico, El Salvador, and Honduras, with each nation commemorating their independence.
The country of Mexico annually celebrates their Independence Day on September 16th, as it was on this day in 1810 that the “cry of independence” began a revolt against the Spaniards.
This is considered a public holiday in the country, meaning banks, schools, government offices, and many other businesses officially close for the day in its honor.
Mexicans celebrate with fireworks, fiestas or parties, food, music, and dancing.
And, much decor showcasing red, white, and green, the colors of the Mexican flag, can be seen in and around public areas.
It’s also common to see locals celebrate by throwing confetti and making noise with whistles and horns while shouting “Viva Mexico.”
Honduras Independence Day is celebrated annually on September 15th.
Much of Central America, including Honduras, gained their independence on this day after a long era of Spanish rule.
Hondurans commemorate the end of this rule in style, as each year’s celebration is said to include much fun, beautiful animals, grand parties, a lot of dancing, and interesting sites.
Each year, citizens put the country’s rich history and culture on display with celebrations and parades which include marching and dancing.
Traditional foods and drinks are served such as tamales and horchata…you may recognize horchata, as this Honduran drink made of rice water, cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla makes an amazingly delicious additive to serve in coffee!
On this day, the Honduran flag is flown high, and the national anthem is sung with both pride and passion.
Then lastly, El Salvador also celebrates their independence each year on September 15th.
On this day, the government in El Salvador closes the most important streets in the largest cities as parades which include dancers and musicians, often performing various renditions of the country’s anthem, march in celebration.
Citizens can commonly be seen waving blue and white flags in honor of the day, and as in most countries, traditional El Salvadoran foods are enjoyed, such as the pupusa or stuffed tortilla, the national dish of this Latin American nation.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this Latin American journey, gaining a greater appreciation for all the ways this region has influenced and impacted the coffee industry (particularly with small family-owned farms and shade grown, certified coffee varieties), even catching a happy glimpse of the culture and Independence Day celebrations each nation enjoys!
Check out Lifeboost Coffee Grata Medium Roast.
References:
- https://www.cepal.org/en/about/member-states#
- https://mayorgacoffee.com/blogs/news/the-cultural-significance-of-coffee-in-latin-america#
- https://perfectdailygrind.com/2020/09/what-is-a-cafe-con-leche/
- https://coffeehunter.com/our-origins/mexico/#
- https://coffeebeansdelivered.com.au/blogs/news/the-mexican-coffee-industry#
- https://coffeehunter.com/our-origins/honduras/
- https://perfectdailygrind.com/2020/03/exploring-the-history-of-honduran-coffee-production/
- https://coffeegeek.com/blog/history/specialty-coffee-in-el-salvador/#
- https://cupofexcellence.org/cup-of-excellence-history/
- https://www.contiki.com/six-two/article/fun-facts-about-mexico/#
- https://www.enjoytravel.com/us/travel-news/interesting-facts/interesting-facts-el-salvador
- https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/honduras-facts/
- https://blog.compassion.com/interesting-facts-about-el-salvador/
- https://nationaltoday.com/el-salvador-independence-day/
- https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/mexico/independence-day
- https://nationaltoday.com/honduras-independence-day/
- https://diversityatlas.io/events/honduras-independence-day/#
- https://www.chefspencil.com/exploring-salvadoran-cuisine/
- https://www.moon.com/travel/trip-ideas/holidays-and-festivals-in-el-salvador/#