About This Coffee

The flower, Plumberia rubra, is native to Chiapas. The legend behind the flower is that it represents immortality for its ability to thrive in the harshest conditions. Ki-Saya links the effort of its coffee growers and conserves the combination of culture and power of the land. The name comes from the combination of Ki which means tasty and Saayab means nature in Mayan.

The Process

Coffee is Chiapa’s most important commercial crop and has a long history in the region, becoming a significant source of income for small producers. Coffee farmers in San Cristobal de las Casas and specifically in Tenejapa (community nearby San Cristobal de las Casas Municipality), have improved their processing capabilities over the years, which resulted in high quality coffee with delicious notes of citric sweet acidity, cherry, apple, and brown sugar. Chiapas is a tropical region with significant variations in weather due in part to dramatic changes in altitude. The soil is very fertile, and more than half the population works in agriculture, including coffee beans, cacao, sugar cane, mangos, and bananas. Coffee is grown under the shade of many different indigenous trees.

Producers here have learned how to process their coffee to ensure quality Only the best cherries are selected for the specialty market. After depulping, the coffee ferments for 12 to 17 hours before being washed and dried on small drying patios next to farmers’ homes. Ki-Saya coffee farmers also take a great pride in delivering pristine parchment coffee. Often before the coffee is delivered, they pick out any dried cherries or cherry skin before delivering it. It is some of the best coffees in Chiapas, let alone Mexico.

The Region

Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost state, boasts a diverse tapestry of culture, history, and natural wonders, with its coffee region being just one facet of its charm. Nestled in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountain range, this region is a classical paradise, offering breathtaking landscapes including lush rainforests, cascading waterfalls, and ancient Mayan ruins.

In Chiapas, 44% of the population is indigenous: Mayan, Tzotzil ant Tzeltal. These vibrant indigenous cultures have thrived in Chiapas for centuries and continue traditions of music, dance, and artisan crafts. The people wear beautiful handmade clothes, the men dressing in short pants tied with a red cotton belt and a shirt that hangs down to their knees. They also wear leather huaraches and a hat decorated with ribbons. Women wear a red skirt, a short huipil blouse, and use a shawl to carry their babies and bundles.

Covoya, as a leading player in the state of Chiapas, is also a key partner for the farmers, working for more than 15 years with the coffee growing communities. Our engagement has become a flagship of sustainable agricultural practices and supply chain transformation, hence adding value to local farmer's economic activity.