BRAZIL Fazenda Rainha Yellow Bourbon

Fazenda Rainha produces coffees of the Yellow Bourbon Arabica variety, known for its exceptional quality. The farm is situated at an altitude of between 1,100 and 1,500 meters with an average annual rainfall of 1,800 to 2,000 mm and an average temperature of 19 °C, providing ideal conditions for coffee cultivation.

The plantation has been owned by the Carvalho Dias family since 1890. Gabriel de Carvalho Dias, the owner’s nephew, is responsible for managing the farm. It is located south of the border with the state of Minas Gerais in the state of São Paulo, in the town of São Sebastião da Grama. The hilly, mountainous landscape of the Mogiana region, where Fazenda Rainha is situated, is similar to that of the Sul de Minas region. The topography does not allow for mechanical harvesting, so the coffee, unlike on many plantations in Brazil, is harvested by hand.

Social and environmental aspects are given special emphasis in the operation of the Fazenda. To ensure ecological balance, other native plants are also cultivated on the plantation. Of the Fazenda’s total area of ​​484 hectares, less than half (190 hectares) is actually used for coffee cultivation. The plantation employees live in well-equipped houses, there is a transport system to take the children to school, and a recreation area with a club and a football field. The water used is treated to prevent pollution of the water sources.

Regarding the processing and quality of the green coffee:
The coffee cherries are hand-picked and transported to the processing area on the same day, minimizing the risk of uncontrolled fermentation. They are immediately washed and sorted by size, with defective beans being removed. The coffee cherries dry in sunlight before being pulped (hulled) in a water channel. The coffee beans then dry until they reach a moisture content of 20%. In a special dryer, the moisture content is subsequently reduced to 11%. The finished green coffee is stored in a warehouse on the farm.

The quality of the coffee produced at Fazenda Rainha is the result of dedication to the plantation, the care of the coffee trees, and the harvesting and processing of the coffee beans. The work done by Helena Mello der Carcalho Dias and her family ensures exceptional quality in every cup and led to the plantation being a finalist in the “Cup of Excellence” competitions in 2000, 2001, and 2005.

The cherries of the Yellow Bourbon variety remain yellow even when ripe.

Region: Cerrado – Minas Gerais
Variety: Yellow Bourbon
Growing altitude: 1,100–1,500 m
Harvest time: April to September
Soil: fertile soil
Processing: semi-washed
Shade trees: yes
Quality: NY 2/3 Screen 17/18
Certifications: –