Cup of excellence winner with a wonderful, well-constructed attributes, full of tangerine, brown sugar, and caramel. An impressive full, velvety mouthfeel and exceptional finish.
Sergio Ticas Reyes inherited Los Planes from his grandfather, Jose Onofre Ticas. Los Planes was grown with Typical variety only; Sergio's father, preserved this cultivar until 1996, until Sergio renovated the farm with Bourbon and Pacamara varieties.
Sergio is a well-know coffee producer from Citala, he represented once again the Chalatenango department at 2011 Cup of Excellence, where he ranked in 6th place. Participating in COE has allowed Sergio to be more vigilant in the production and processes of his coffee.
Coffee lots coming from Los Planes are processed in a wet mill and treated under gourmet preparation protocol, including fresh and clean water from natural spring, milling and sun drying patios.
Coffee plantation in Los Planes are relatively young since Sergio keeps replanting and replacing old trees. At first, Sergio obtained vegetative material and technical assistance from PROCAFE, El Salvador coffee research agency, but now uses his own nurseries. The treatment of his farm have been very traditional with appreciative shade, pruning, weed control, rationalized fertilizers usage, among others. Coffee trees density average 3,500 trees/hectare. About 70 people are employed during harvesting and 10 people permanently work at Los Planes.
Sergio keeps permanent relationships with the community, he donated land for construction of a water tank for the entire community. He believes his workers are key and attempts to provided them with more than just a job. He has increased wages and loan land to his foremen for cash crops, helping them increase their income. Also, Sergio keeps a cypress forest, which provides firewood for his workers, while keeping a more stable micro climate and generates home for local fauna. Moreover, a lagoon and water spring is maintained benefiting local fauna, such as, ducks, deer, tepezcuintles, agouti, and many species of birds, among others.
