Geisha is one of the most exotic and currently sought-after varieties worldwide. To such an extent that it has reached prices never before seen in international auctions. Originally collected in Ethiopia in the 1930s, it reached Latin America in the mid-1960s.
The information we have is that the first Geisha seeds traveled first to Kenya in 1936 and later to Tanzania. From there they went to Central America, specifically Costa Rica, in 1953. Its cultivation was not very extensive or very common given the fragility of the branches, and in the 1960s its cultivation began in Panama, a country in which thanks to the topography and its climate better results were obtained.
The Geisha variety rose to fame in 2004 when the Peterson family from Boquete, Panama, entered the "Best of Panamá" contest and auction. It received exceptionally high marks and broke the then record for green coffee auction prices, selling for more than $ 20 per pound. In the last two years, it has managed to widely exceed these prices, reaching up to $ 1,000 per pound in 2019.
There is a lot of confusion about this variety, because there are multiple types of genetically distinct plants that have been called Geisha, many of which share similar geographic origins in Ethiopia. Recent analyzes of genetic diversity confirm that this variety is associated with an extremely high cup quality, which we call Specialty Coffee, when the plants are handled well at high altitudes and it is known worldwide for its delicate floral, jasmine and peach aromas. .
The terms Gesha and Geisha are used interchangeably, in connection with the fact that there is no established translation of the Ethiopian dialects into English. For this reason, and trying to give greater clarity regarding the origin of the variety, the coffee from Africa is called Gesha and the one from South and Central America is called Geisha.
In the cup, the Geisha displays pleasant sweetness, clarity, and a bright flavor that can range from berries, citrus, mango, papaya, peach, pineapple, guava, and jasmine... Quite varied for some palates. It is also recognized for its distinctive bergamot oil and orange peel flavor, it is often compared to Earl Gray tea!
The world of coffee is evolving. 50 years ago it was seen as a simple merchandise and people bought it without paying much attention to the characteristics of each variety. In recent years, this has changed. There is a new way of looking at coffee, trying to understand its uniqueness and that has made the Geisha variety today a luxury item. A luxury within everyone's reach, since at Porte we work directly with the coffee grower and we can offer very competitive prices so that more people can taste and enjoy this wonderful variety.
The secret of the unique quality of our variety is due to the fact that the grain is harvested in the mountainous area of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, at an altitude of more than 1,600 meters, in a cold and rainy microclimate near the Atlantic Ocean. . The low temperatures throughout the year, the persistent rain and the mist make the Geisha coffee bean mature more slowly, which highlights its sweetness and flavor.
As we mentioned earlier, the Geisha variety is the most dreamed of and desired in the world of coffee, because in addition to having reached a high international auction price, it has "the aroma of elegant fruit and a sweet taste." As well as the sweet elegance of the well-ripened mandarin and the aroma of the jasmine flower.
At Porte we put at your disposal one of the most sought-after and currently valued varieties internationally: Geisha. A variety that will make you reconsider the way you consume coffee given its floral and fruity touch. You just have to sign up in our Booking System by sending us an email to info@porte.coffee and as soon as the new harvest is available, we will contact you to confirm your interest and proceed with the shipment from Colombia.
Do not miss the opportunity to taste a Specialty Coffee, from organic crops in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and enjoy the full range of aromas, fragrances and flavors that the unique Geisha variety offers us.
We leave you the following video, produced by Teleaire.com, so that you can get a better idea of what the tree itself is like, its grains and some of the characteristics that we discussed earlier that make Geisha one of the most sought-after coffee varieties, demanded and special.
Síguenos en Instagram @porte.coffee
