Cuban Serrano Lavado

Roast: City (3/7) (Medium)
Tasting Notes: Dark Chocolate, Hazelnut, Toffee, Spices
Altitude: 600-800 MASL
Variety: Mixed
Processing Method: Washed

Story:
Coffee was first introduced to Cuba in 1748. Initially a small industry, this was boosted in the late 18th century during the Hatian Revolution as French colonists fled from Haiti to Cuba. Since many of them were farmers, they introduced improved coffee production methods to Cuba and the industry grew to cover much of the country. This continued to escalate during the 19th and 20th centuries, to its peak in the mid-1950’s, where they exported more than 20,000 metric tonnes per year.[54]

Due to the Cuban Revolution to overthrow their government during the 50’s, coffee production began to decline largely because of the dissolution of large farms and a disincentive for small farm production. As a result, Cuban coffee producers started mixing coffee beans with roasted peas. This remained a staple until pure coffee returned to the Cuban ration books in 2005. However, due to a rise in Robusta prices, roasted peas returned to domestic Cuban coffee in 2011.[54]

Today, the state owns around 80% of the land used to grow coffee and leases most of that to farmers and cooperatives. The crops must be sold to the government for an established price and farmers are unable to sell coffee directly to consumers. However, the drink is heavily established within Cuban culture fostering social interactions on a daily basis and being a large part of their hospitality.[55]

Cuba has 3 major coffee-growing areas, the Sierra Maestra mountains in the east, Pinar del Rio in the west and Escambray in the central part of the island. Serrano Lavado is from the Escambray Mountains, the second largest mountain range in the country after Sierra Maestra. The area is best known for its ‘Crystal Mountain’ due to the large quantity of quartz and mica crystals in the soil. One of the country’s best-known coffee’s, ‘Cubita’, is from this same region and being geographically adjacent to the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, with a similar climate, it is occasionally known as ‘Cuba’s Blue Mountain’.[55][56]

Despite the restrictions placed on the farmers, the fertile land, humid climate and abundant rainfall are perfect conditions for growing coffee and this is a great example of premium Caribbean coffee. It is roasted medium-light to balance the tasting notes of Dark Chocolate, Hazelnut, Toffee and Spices.