Carmen Palomar Geisha

• Cultivar: Geisha / Lot #4
• Flavor Notes: Lemon, apricot, Oolong tea
• Producer: Jean Paul Langenstein
• Farm: Carmen Estate
• Country: Panama
• Region: Chiriqui highlands
• Process: Washed
• Pack: 100g

Origin

Carmen Estate in Panama is owned by the Dashang Group of Dalian, China. Located in the Volcán region, the farm was founded by Efraín and Carmen Franceschi in 1960 and operated for generations by the family, with Carlos Aguilera Franceschi serving as long-time owner and managing director. The transition to new ownership was shaped in large part by Jean Paul Langenstein, whose technical influence has spanned both ownerships. Under his direction, the coffee has continued to improve in quality.

Carmen Estate sits in the Volcán Valley of Panama’s Barú Volcano region, near Boquete, at an elevation of 5,900 feet. The valley is fed by the Chiriquí Viejo river as it descends from the peaks of Cerro Punta toward the Pacific, depositing rich volcanic black soils with exceptional drainage. Its position between the Pacific and Atlantic coasts generates a distinctive micro-climate: cool, frost-free nights and dry, sun-drenched days that are ideal for Arabica production. More than half the farm’s land is forested with native trees that provide natural shade cover. The estate is certified by the Rainforest Alliance.

Carmen Estate produces approximately 1,200 bags of green coffee per year across four varieties: Catuai, Caturra, Typica, and Geisha. Harvest runs from December through March and is carried out by hand by the Ngäbe, the indigenous people of the Chiriquí region. Historically the farm focused on washed processing with sun or mechanical drying. In recent years, the team has developed considerable expertise in natural processing as well.