The Tepetzinla area is located in the municipality of Tetela de Ocampo in Puebla, Mexico. This area is characterized by extensive coniferous forests, home to many wild animals such as squirrels, hawks, owls, snakes, and others. The area's population is predominantly indigenous; 70% speak Nahuatl and maintain various ancestral traditions and customs. Many people here still dress in traditional clothing. The main economic driver in the area is agriculture, with coffee, chili peppers, beans, and tomatoes being the most commonly cultivated crops. Coffee growers here are very committed to environmental protection, which is why they don't use chemicals to control weeds. They control them manually with a machete; this practice is called "chapeo." Typically, the houses and coffee washing centers are located in the city center, while the farms are located high in the mountains, so farmers and their families have to carry the coffee down from the top of the mountain to the washing stations.
Over the years, Puebla has quietly become one of the most important producing regions in Mexico and surpassed Oaxaca in terms of productivity. There is so much here we're excited about and looking forward to growing for years to come. 2024 was our first year buying from Puebla, and the potential is palpable. We're excited to make sure these coffees get the differentiation they deserve. One thing that makes the state of Puebla unique in Mexico is that it supports producers with agronomic education and resources. For instance, one project provided collapsible raised drying beds with ventilated airflow systems for producers to dry their coffee more evenly and consistently. This is well above and beyond the level of assistance we've seen for smallholder producers in Mexico, and it's materially impacted the cup quality.
