Bonita Springs - Panama - Natural - SL28
More exceptional coffee from Panama. There are some things in life that when you come across them, you don't think twice: Chenin Blanc from L'Oire, Geuze from Lambeek, and SL28 natural from Bonita Springs! This coffee is consistently great every year and is in our opinion, just as good as their Geisha(?!). It's floral, bright, refreshing, but also deep and ripe at the same time. Citrus and berry fruits as you'd expect from the variety, and laser-sharp refinement as you'd expect from Panama! Expect notes of raspberry, white peach, and orange blossom.
Info
Farm
Bonita Springs is a 31 hectare farm currently cultivating Caturra, Catuai, Geisha, Pacamara, Laurina, & SL28.
Region
Boquete is one of Panamas most famous coffee growing regions with many famous farmers and Best of Panama winners located here. Some notable farms include the Hartmann Estate, Carmen Estate, and Lamastus Family Farms to name a few.
Producer
The farm has been owned and operated by the Miró and Olmedo families for over 80 years.
Elevation
Bonita Springs sits in a valley at 1,250 masl, which imitates the cooler temperatures of higher altitudes due to what is known as Valley Fog: Overnight, the ground of the mountains cools as the heat that was gathered from the sun’s rays during the day is released back into the air at the ground level. The denser, cooler air on mountain-tops sinks into valleys, and collects there. This phenomenon is known as 'cold air drainage.'
Variety
SL28 is named after it's creator, Scott Laboratories, who bred the drought-resistant hybrid in Kenya in the 1930's.
Process
Fully-ripe cherries are floated and sorted before being laid to dry on raised beds. The cherries are constantly monitored and turned to ensure even and uniform drying.
SL28
“The SL varieties are a big reason why, for decades, Kenyan coffee was regarded as the best in the world.”
SL28 was bred as a drought-resistant hybrid by Scott Agricultural Laboratories in the 1930's and planted throughout Kenya. Fortunately the cup quality happens to be exceptional it is also notable for its rusticity, a quality meaning that it can be left untended for years or even decades at a time, and then return to successful production. There are SL28 trees in many parts of Kenya that are 60-80 years old and are still producing fruit.
The Beautiful Springs
“Bonita Springs is somewhat of a paradise, a thriving and balanced ecosystem”.”
Water is the most abundent feature at Bonita Springs, as the name would suggest. There are two rivers, four streams, five natural springs and two waterfalls that flow through and about the land. The farm resembles a thriving rainforest with a unique location and climate. Sitting in the Boquete valley, it has high rainfall and humidity and the cold misty Atlantic winds coming from over the continental divide, mixed with warmer Pacific breezes from the southern lowlands.
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