Dried Fruits & Caramel Harvest: Jul – Aug 2025

Country: Peru Producer: Community Lot Region: Jaén Process: Washed Variety: Bourbon Altitude: 1,600 - 2,000 masl

In the hills of Cajamarca, Jaén, lies El Cedro, a farm named after the cedar trees that shade its coffee fields. For over 25 years, Rosalía Perez has worked in coffee, and for the past five years she has focused on producing specialty lots, driven by her desire to support her family and deliver high-quality coffee.

Together with her husband, children, and occasional helpers, Rosalía manages the farm with care and dedication. Her main variety is Caturra, alongside Typica, Catimor and Bourbon, all cultivated under cedar shade. The farm produces mostly washed coffee, complemented by a small portion of natural processing.

Her approach to processing has evolved over time. Where fermentation once happened in open tanks, Rosalía now uses hermetic bags, protecting the coffee and improving consistency. Her washed coffees undergo extended fermentation of up to 108 hours after depulping before being slowly dried for about a month on raised beds.

Coffee has transformed her life, allowing her to provide education for her children and strengthen her family’s future. She takes pride not only in the quality of her coffee, but in the work behind it. Looking ahead, Rosalía hopes to improve her processing infrastructure and build a solar dryer, while continuing to refine her craft and expand into new varieties like Geisha.