Birds of a Feather?

The new nation of Timor Leste has yet to choose its national bird. For the moment, though, a chicken appears both on a coin and on postage stamps. This might not be as bad of a choice as it initially appears. Chickens, considered objectively, are resplendent things. Colonel Sanders would never have been interested in any of our local national […]

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Playa El Tunco

written by Roxana Revolone photos: Lena Johannessen No longer in the shadow of its more-famous neighbors Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, El Salvador is now positioning itself on the tourist map as a more-than-attractive destination. The internationally recognized Lonely Planet list of “10 Best Tourist Destinations in the Word of 2010” includes, for the first time, this tiny Central American country […]

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Certificates of Origin for Salvadoran Coffee

To improve their competitive standing, the foundation PROCAFE, with the support of the Salvadoran Coffee Council (CSC), is developing Certificates of Origin for the country’s various coffee-producing regions. The Apaneca-Llamatepeque mountain range has been selected as the pilot area, known for its quality coffee, and due to its unique history, climate, tradition and geography, the region has been named by […]

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El Salvador Launches Coffee Forest Geotourism Initiative

El Salvador has started a project that intends to turn its coffee forests into world-class tourist destinations. “Iniciativa de Geoturismo en los Bosques Tropicales de Café” will enhance the coffee forests’ geographical character, environment, legacy, aesthetics, culture and people. The program is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Multi-sectoral Investment Bank and the Salvadoran Coffee Council, […]

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Coffee and Climate Change

Climatic variability is the main factor responsible for the varied and often-frustrating coffee yields around the world. Temperature and rainfall are considered the most important weather factors affecting the harvest. Generally speaking, a great degree of uncertainty still exists regarding how each producing region will be affected, and how it will impact overall coffee worldwide. However, experts expect some changes […]

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Coffee Forest: El Salvador explores a compensation plan for environmental services

El Salvador’s coffee sector has begun implementing an initiative called “Coffee and Environment” in an effort to conserve the El Salvador coffee forest and the environmental and social-economic benefits that it generates. The plan includes a compensation plan for environmental services, particularly from carbon-dioxide reduction. At a social and economic level, the conservation of coffee forest provides the country with […]

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Salvadoran Surf Circuit 2009

The first two rounds of the Salvadoran Surf Circuit took place in June and July. The next events will be held at Playa Punta Mango on Sept. 12 and 13 and at the Playa Mizata on Oct. 24 and 25. The 5th National Circuit Competition and the finals for national ranking will be held at the Playa Costa del Sol […]

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This year’s El Salvador Cup of Excellence auction broke price records

This year’s El Salvador Cup of Excellence auction broke price records — and touched hearts with a humanitarian gesture. The auction, which took place last month, ended with the surprising announcement that the buyers from one of the 33 winning lots were donating the projected profits to Ricardo Espitia, Executive Director of the Salvadoran Coffee Council who had suffered a […]

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Banking The Unbanked

La Fida finds ways to spread and trickle down wealth to rural El Salvador El Salvador is enjoying more economic growth than any other Central American state, according to World Bank indicators. Nevertheless, rapid growth typically increases the disparity in income distribution, particularly in a country still dressing its wounds from the 13-year civil conflict that ended in 1992. But […]

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Sonsonate – From the land of coconuts to the coffee kingdom

El Salvador is set to impress the world again with its seventh annual “Cup of Excellence” program, thanks to an exquisite selection of 33 coffees that obtained this award after a long screening process through cupping sessions. The maximum award this year was engaged by a farm grown with Pacamara variety, an exotic coffee varietal from El Salvador. Nicknamed “El […]

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Coffee, a perfect way to enhance your business experience

Coffee can be, in many ways, an integral part of a customer’s experience at your restaurant. Burt Lancaster, the famous actor, once said: “I judge a restaurant by the bread and by the coffee.” His quote couldn’t be truer, and here’s why. Imagine guests arriving for a highly anticipated meal, which required a lot of preparation and effort. Everything goes […]

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Coffee: The Joy of the Harvest

In El Salvador, every year starts with fireworks, traditional meals and family gatherings. But also with the hope and joy of coffee harvesting, which is still going on, especially in the highlands. Coffee trees become bright and red, and between shade trees, sunlight gleams over the hopeful faces of producers and pickers. They’ve already begun this phenomenal task: to select […]

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The Raw Coffee Quality Pyramid

In the coffee world, there’s a quality pyramid that illustrates the many types and qualities of this popular beverage. The broad base of the pyramid rests on the two main commercial species: arabica and robusta. Arabica is the one that popularized coffee consumption throughout the world, and all fine coffees belong to this species. Robusta is regularly used for soluble […]

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Salvadoran barista championship dominated by women

For two days 16 baristas demonstrated their skills and quality of their espresso-based beverages before an audience of 175 people and a select group of international and national judges. Participants had to prepare 12 drinks in 15 minutes—four espresso, four cappuccino and four signature drinks—and were evaluated by seven judges. Flor de Maria Góchez, from Viva Espresso, won first place […]

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El Volcán de San Salvador

Written by Kelly Montes The magic comes without the crowds Many Salvadorans know El Volcán de San Salvador for its proximity to the capital. Just look up from almost anywhere in the city and there it is, dominating the landscape with lush green slopes and silently beckoning you to visit. The Volcano of San Salvador is a community with a […]

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The best Salvadoran coffees land in North American coffee shops

After being milled, packed and shipped with the utmost care, the best of the best is available at the top specialty coffee roasters and coffee shops around the world, particularly in North America. Sold in a record-breaking auction in June, 36 lots of the most sought-after coffee from El Salvador are there for all coffee lovers to enjoy. Some of […]

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Regional Cuisine

Excellence in gastronomy as a tool for the tourist industry Food has always been a fundamental part of traveling. The dining experience is continuously claiming ground as a new element of cultural tourism. The main motivations are found in the search of pleasure through unique or unusual dining experiences, leaving behind mainstream fare in favor of the genuine, typical dish […]

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Salvadoran Coffee Excels at Roasters Guild Retreat

Café de El Salvador participated for the second year in a row as a sponsor at the Roasters Guild Retreat’s eighth annual edition August 14-17th in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Roasters Guild is an association of roasters supported by the Specialty Coffee Association of America, which each year gathers roasters from all over the world for three days of activities focusing […]

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Concepción de Ataco

Concepción de Ataco is a colonial villa situated in Ahuachapán, a province in El Salvador. The town is part of the Ruta de Las Flores, which is a journey through colonial towns in the mountains where you can enjoy a cool, pleasant climate and much more. Along the route, visitors will experience spectacular scenery full of greenery and flowers. At […]

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Regional Symposium on Coffee and Health held in El Salvador

Attended by more than 400 people from Central America, the Regional Symposium on Coffee and Health was aimed at breaking most of the coffee-consumption myths held by the general public and especially among health professionals. The event was opened by El Salvador President Elias Antonio Saca and attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Mario Salaverría; the Minister of Health, José […]

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