Ecuador Washed Specialty Grade, Loja, Valle de Vilcabamba, Finca La Marquesa, Typica Mejorada

Ecuador is one of the world's most biologically diverse countries. Despite its small size, it has twice the plant and animal species of the United States and Canada together, four times more than all of Europe, and the largest number of plant species per unit of area in the Americas. All the different ecosystems across the country give place to different coffee cultures. Also, Ecuador is one of the 15 countries in the world that grow and export both Arabica and Robusta.

Coffee production, industrialization, and export is one of the most important economic sectors in the country. Despite the decrease in total production observed since the 1980s, the number of farmers producing quality coffee is growing and the specialty scene is taking off. One of the most well-known regions due to its high-quality potential is Loja, which contributes to around 20% of the country’s Arabica production. Finca La Marquesa is located here, right in the Vilcabamba Valley, located at some 1,800 masl.

This region is well known for the longevity of its inhabitants and the exceptional quality of its coffee. The name Vilcabamba comes from the Inca dialect Quechua and is composed of two words: Huilco, meaning "sacred" or "God", and Bamba meaning "valley"; hence, “Valley of God" or "Sacred Valley". The soil quality and devoted work of the experienced farmers guarantee a harvest of excellent coffee with a smooth balance of acidity, aroma, flavor, and body. This washed Typica Mejorado is a great example. Interestingly, the Typica Mejorado variety is not related to Typica; rather, its name is likely based on its sensory characteristics closely mirroring those of Typica.