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Best of Panama Coffee Competition
Boquete, Panama April 12 - 14, 2007
We just returned from Boquete, Panama where we served on a panel
of international judges for The Best of Panama, a prestigious coffee
competition. The annual event's objective is to determine and rank
the finest coffees from Panama grown this year. The top twenty coffees,
all small lots, will then be auctioned to enthusiastic buyers worldwide
in a live internet auction on May 29th.
The top farm this year is Hacienda La Esmeralda owned by the family
of Price Peterson. This now famous coffee has taken first place
in the competition for four consecutive years and has also taken
top honors in other multi-national coffee competitions. In last
year's auction, La Esmeralda set two records in The Best of Panama:
the highest score and the highest price - $50.50 per unroasted pound.
Only about 1000 pounds of that particular lot were available.
In addition to any coffees we may purchase at auction, we are
pleased to say that we will be acquiring some quantity of La Esmeralda
Especial, a very limited and nearly identical coffee from the winning
farm. The specialty coffees from Panama have rapidly risen to 'World
Class' status in recent years. While La Esmeralda gets most of the
attention, which it clearly deserves, all of the top finalists are
producing coffee at the highest level of excellence. Some of these
coffees are just terrific.
La Esmeralda as well as the second place coffee are unique because
they are grown from an exotic varietal called Geisha. It originates
from Ethiopia and has been successfully grown in Boquete's high
altitude and cool climate. But other varietals that took top positions
also show off the natural attributes of the area and the local farmer's
commitment to quality and environment. Many farmers there are adding
the Geisha varietal to select sections of their land.
|
Position
|
Points
|
Region of production
|
Name of Coffee
|
Name of Proprietor
|
|
1
|
95.26 |
Jaramillo, Boquete |
Esmeralda Especial |
Hacienda La Esmeralda |
|
2
|
92.74 |
Alto Quiel, Boquete |
MCGC |
Mama Cata, S. A. |
|
3
|
90.74 |
Alto Quiel, Boquete |
Elida Estate |
Familia Lamastus |
|
4
|
89.61 |
Volcancito, Boquete |
Kotowa Organico |
Ricardo Koyner |
|
5
|
89.35 |
Paso Ancho, Volcan |
Carmen Estate |
Coffee Mirza Franceschi de Aguilera |
|
6
|
88.38 |
Candela, Santa Clara, Renacimiento |
Finca Santa Teresa Number 2 |
Finca Santa Teresa |
|
7
|
88.03 |
Volcancito, Boquete |
Bourbon |
Antonio Vasquez |
|
8
|
88.01 |
Santa Clara, Renacimiento |
P.F.H. |
Finca Hartmann |
We have already secured some superb coffee and will acquire more.
Expected arrival will be in June and we will advise you.
B and B
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