About this coffee…

Mujer Norandina is a group of all-women producers based in Rio Intag, Ecuador, working together against discrimination in order to earn their own income. From them comes a washed coffee with sweet notes of red grape and nutty chocolate.

Mujer Norandina (Women of the North Andes) is a project led by Ena Escobar who owns a dry mill based in Quito. Through this business, Ena saw the gender inequalities in coffee production, and began facilitating the organisation of women producers in the area of Rio Intag into an association. This project, arranged and led by women, started in 2010 and has encompassed over 320 producers directly. Its aim is to make women feel empowered and take ownership of their profession as coffee growers and producers of a high quality product. Likewise, it gives them the opportunity to work in a safe environment and to be financially independent.

Mujer Norandina is not only important for gender equality in the area but for protection of the natural biosphere against mining. For many years, the community of Rio Intag has been fighting against mining in the area to protect the environment, soil and water. Coffee production offers the locals a sustainable alternative income to mining. Velley of Intag has been a coffee growing region for the last 3 decades. This is an exuberant valley dominated by the river Intag, surrounded by tall mountains, dense cloud and tropical forests, which hold a vast amount of biodiversity.

Country: Ecuador

Region: Imbabura

Processing Station: Mujer Norandina

Process: Washed

Varietal: Caturra, Bourbon

Altitude: 1200 - 1800 m.a.s.l

Flavours: Red grape, Sugar cane, Chocolate, Nutty

Score: 85.75