International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate the women who make the specialty coffee world what it is today.  “The lady”, a distinctive high-quality coffee sourced from Myanmar, showcases the skill of its 51 women producers.   Standout features of "The Lady," are its unique flavour and commitment to social and environmental sustainability.  It serves as a reminder of the intricate journey from bean to cup and the profound impact of coffee cultivation on communities and environments worldwide.

 

 

THE ORIGIN

"The Lady" originates from a group of producers nestled in the highlands of Myanmar, where the local traditions and community well-being influence the approach to coffee growing. Named in homage to the pivotal role women play in its production, from cultivation to harvest, through to processing, it’s quality epitomizes their indispensable contributions.  Beyond its dynamic flavour profile "The Lady" is a symbol of community empowerment. The initiative prioritizes sustainable purchasing practices, ensuring farmers receive money for their harvest over standard market rates. This commitment fosters a sustainable income, fostering a sense of ownership and pride among producers.  Agricultural sustainability is ingrained in "The Lady's" cultivation practices too. The producers adopt organic farming methods that foster biodiversity, promoting a healthy ecosystem. These efforts not only support the quality of the coffee beans but also safeguard the environment for generations to come.

 

PROCESSING AND FLAVOUR 

This micro-lot is a carbonic macerated red honey process Maceration is a fermentation that started in winemaking and is based on the principle that with any fruit fermentation carbon dioxide is a by-product. Wine makers tried an approach where wine starts fermentation in a carbon dioxide rich environment so that the carbon dioxide permeates the fruit skin and fermentation starts within the fruit itself. It helps reduce tannins in wine and importantly for coffee, produces bolder, fruiter wines.

 

Because coffee is the seed of a fruit this novel form is processing can be applied to harvested coffee. As with wine coffee is placed in a controlled carbon dioxide rich environment for three days, managed to allow excess gas to escape, and measured to make sure sugar levels and pH are just right. In wine an extra fermentation to create alcohol would then take place but with honey processed coffee it’s depulped and sent straight to the drying tables for three weeks careful curing.

 

How does this all taste after roasting? With lots of fruit to play with we’ve given this a medium to dark roast to bring out a rich milk chocolate praline base note on which the berry-like fruit can sit. Bold red berry fruit notes abound in the coffee and we’ve picked out strawberry and pomegranate in our tastings. Vanilla and toffee start to come through as the coffee cools and a low-level candied lemon acidity adds just enough structure on the finish. There is a cocoa butter feel to the mouthfeel which helps the overall feel of the coffee come across as a warming and comforting brew

FOR YOU (The buyer) 

Purchasing "The Lady" directly contributes to social and environmental sustainability in coffee production. It supports fair compensation for farmers, community development through education, and the adoption of sustainable farming practices that benefit the environment.

 

This International Women’s Day, "The Lady" stands out as an example of how coffee can be a force for positive change, supporting not just the pleasure of coffee enthusiasts but also the well-being of producer communities and the environment.