In the north of Nicaragua, sharing a border with Honduras, we find the lush Nueva Segovia region. People lived in this area thousands of years before Columbus landed, and these days, ethnic groups and more recent citizens form a rich cultural collage.
Farms are small--averaging around three hectares, and the region itself is smaller than the more well-known Matagalpa or Madriz areas. Be that as it may, it has all the elements that make for quality coffee: shade, fertile soil, high elevations, and of course, careful cultivation and processing.
Some exciting specialty coffees are coming out of the the mountains of Nueva Segovia. Since 2005, farmers and co-operatives have been entering Cup of Excellence contests, consistently placing. CoE juries’ descriptions border on the effusive. Most agree that sweet, floral, and balanced apply.