Day 16. Peru - Relinda Chavez Tintay Puncu – Microlot

Grown at a breathtaking 2,350 meters above sea level in Tintay Puncu, Huancavelica, Relinda Chavez’s microlot coffee is a true example of dedication, resilience, and terroir. Crafted using traditional organic methods and shaded by native trees like Pacae and Banano, this coffee is produced with care and sustainability at its core. Fermented for 18–24 hours and fully washed, the result is a clean, vibrant profile that reflects both the unique microclimate and Relinda’s over 20 years of commitment to quality coffee cultivation.

Relinda and her husband began their journey in coffee after fleeing the violence of the Shining Path insurgency in the 1980s. They worked on farms in the central jungle, learning the craft hands-on. When peace returned to Tayacaja in the 1990s, they went back to their abandoned land and began planting coffee—transforming hardship into hope.

Their farm, known in Quechua as Huallaanakuy Waqta (“the hillside and the reunion”) and in Spanish as Café Paraíso, is a deeply symbolic place—where family, tradition, and community came back together after years of exile.

Peru is the world’s largest exporter of organic Arabica coffee and home to exceptional growing conditions—towering altitudes, rich volcanic soils, and biodiverse ecosystems. While coffee arrived in Peru in the 1700s, large-scale export only began in the late 1800s, driven by European demand after coffee leaf rust decimated crops in Indonesia.

Today, most Peruvian coffee is produced by smallholder farmers like Relinda. Their practices—hand-picking, on-farm washing, and sun drying on raised beds—are increasingly refined through partnerships and cooperatives, pushing Peruvian coffee into the spotlight of specialty markets.

Relinda works closely with Saba Café, who discovered her coffee at a producer fair in 2018. Since then, they’ve partnered to elevate the quality of her production—introducing selective harvesting, fermentation control, improved washing stations, drying beds, and ongoing training for her family. The goal is not just better coffee, but a sustainable livelihood and legacy for the next generation.

Every cup tells a story. Our coffees are sourced from passionate farmers around the world, roasted with care in Buckinghamshire, and delivered fresh to your home. Treat yourself to something special, or share the gift of great coffee