YLDER HERRERA HEREDIA / PERU
YLDER HERRERA HEREDIA / PERU
Flavor Profile :
Nectarine, Lemon, Tea-like, Cane sugar.
Origin: Peru
Producer: Ylder Herrera Heredia
Farm: Flor del Valle
Region: Amazonas > Lonya Grande
Varieties: Costa Rica 95, Bourbon
Process: Washed
Altitude: 1900 - 2000 Masl (meters above sea level)
Harvest: 2022
Certification: EU Organic
This coffee holds an EU Organic certification, ensuring its organic quality within the EU regulations. It boasts a distinct, crisp fruitiness reminiscent of nectarines and lemons. The aroma and texture are vibrant and reminiscent of delicate black tea. A subtle touch of cane sugar-like softness and a sweet aftertaste spread gently, creating a delightful and comforting experience.
Ylder Herrera Heredia is a young producer who was born and raised in the Amazonas region. His family has been involved in producing high-quality coffee, and he learned the skills from a young age. After obtaining his degree at university, he chose to work in collaboration with small-scale producers in his hometown region.
His farm, Flor del Valle, is located in the Lonya Grande region of Amazonas, cultivating coffee on a two-hectare piece of land. Positioned at an altitude of around 1900 meters, Ylder grows the Costa Rica 95 and Catuai varieties.
Coffee cherries are harvested and then processed to remove the pulp using equipment on the farm. Various approaches are experimented with for removing the pulp to enhance the quality. After pulping, the parchment is fermented for about 10 hours in small tanks or bags, followed by drying in solar dryers. The drying process takes approximately 30 days on average.
At an elevation of 1900 meters, higher altitudes like this allow for longer fermentation times compared to lower elevations. The extended fermentation while keeping the cherries intact results in distinct fruity flavors and high-quality coffee.
Peru, which is adjacent to Brazil and Colombia, is a country with a significant production of Arabica coffee. However, the surrounding environment of coffee farms is not necessarily well-developed, and there is still a lack of infrastructure.
Most of the farms are small-scale and located in rural areas, distant from urban centers. About 30% of Peruvian farmers gain access to the market through participation in cooperatives.
While Peru has a considerable Arabica coffee production, the overall infrastructure and accessibility to markets for these small-scale farms remain limited. Many farmers rely on cooperatives to help bridge this gap and connect their coffee to the broader market.
While producing high-quality coffee, Ylder Herrera Heredia also serves as the chairman of a cooperative called Norcafe. Norcafe is composed of over 400 producers, many of whom are young individuals who have inherited a passion for coffee cultivation from their families.
The cooperative creates micro-lots and communal blend coffees. Communal blend refers to a blend created from coffees that meet high quality standards but cannot be shipped as individual lots due to their limited harvest quantity. Through this communal blend, even the smaller harvest quantities can be offered in the market.
Norcafe's activities are directed towards social, economic, and environmental aspects. They adhere to standards set by Fair Trade and other organic and sustainability regulations. Additionally, they ensure transparency in payment to producers, maintaining a clear record of pricing.
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