Nicaragua Las Delicias Honey

Blackcurrant, elderberry, Earl Grey

Owner: Eleane Mierisch

Region: Lipululu, Jinotega

Elevation: 1450-1500 m

Harvest period: January - February

Average daily temperature: highest 27° C, lowest 16° C

Other varietals: Bourbon, Java, Caturra, Catuai, Laurina

Processing: Red Honey

SCA score: 89

Importing company: Plot Coffee

About Eleane Mierisch and Las Delicias
Eleane is one of the leading lights in coffee processing in Nicaragua and Honduras. Much of the reason the coffee from the family Mierisch is tasting so clear and sweet, is thanks to their great processing, and Eleane is the one in charge of that. A job title normally dominated by men in Nicaragua.

Eleane comes from a coffee-producing family, but she had studied to be a nurse. She works in the family business for decades but has never owned her own farm – until a few years ago when she acquired Las Delicias all for herself.

Las Delicias is located in the region of Jinotega at an average altitude of 1450 metres above sea level, which is considered very high for Nicaragua. It is located next to another Mierisch farm, so Eleane knows the area very well, she knows the land and what it's capable of producing. On top of this, there is Eleanes' passion for coffee, and then you can start to understand why she wanted to produce coffee on a farm of her own. 

The farm is 20 manzanas (about 13 hectares) in size and all of it is planted with coffee. Eleane is working with a lot of respect for nature and she always says "to be grateful to mother nature".

About the Java varietal
The coffee-growing at Las Delicias, is the mother plant to the Javas we are buying from Bolivia. Seedlings from Las Delicias were brought to Roudriguez' Alasitas to try out new varietals in Bolivia as it gives such a delicate, and sweet cup in Nicaragua. 

Java is often called Longberry as that is just what it looks like - the berries and the seeds (beans) are long and slim. However, Java is the common name.

Sustainability 
The Mierisch family are very active in social projects around the farms. Not only do they have a full-time kitchen team at their farms to make breakfast and lunch, with 1000 tortillas going out every day. They have also built daycare centres and schools for the workers' children, located at the farms. Children helping their families at the farms is common in Nicaragua, but instead, they are asked to go to the school or leaving the kids at the caretaker as they are working. The workers are also offered help with family planning, and medical advice from specialised staff.