In Nahuatl, the language of the indigenous peoples of southern Mexico, Xico means “where there are honeycombs of yellow wax”. This city, located in the Mexican state of Veracruz, is located near the base of the Cofre del Perote Volcano. Surrounded by mountains, plateaus, and waterfalls, the soil has proven to be fertile and suitable for growing a variety of crops, including coffee.   

This growing region is only 20 minutes from Coatepec, a city widely recognized as the coffee capital of Mexico.  Xico's location to such a reputable coffee capital has pushed farmers to vastly improve their quality and work toward efficient and sustainable methods.  The area has a rich history of organic farming practices, many of which are still used today; native trees, like banana and oak, are used to provide shade for their coffee trees.  Due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, farmers must grow coffee below 1,800 meters above sea-level to protect their crops from frost. Farms in this region tend to be smaller, only 2 to 3 hectares in size, which allows farmers to tend to their crop with care and dilligence.    

This small lot has a smooth, rich body and is bursting with cardamom spice, milk chocolate and almond, rounded out with fig and caramel.