El Mural is a blend of coffees from two main regions: Citalá and La Palma. Both of these are part of the Montecristo Trifinio, a national park which shares between El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Designated as a biosphere reserve in 2011, it is an area of incredibly rich biodiversity. Our importer partner Caravela started developing relationships with producers in this area in 2012, and opened a buying station and cupping lab in La Palma in December 2015 for better interaction with the producers.

The farms are located in an environment with excellent agro-climatic conditions, allowing them to grow avocados, cacao, citrus, plantains, and bananas in addition to coffee. The nutrient-rich soils are fertilized in three rounds per year, keeping the plantations healthy and highly productive. The steep slopes of the farms make harvesting challenging, often requiring pickers to transport coffee cherries or parchment by mule or horse before better roads were available.

This lot was grown by about 25 producers who have been working with Caravela for ten years. These producers are entrepreneurs with a deep-rooted passion for coffee, carrying on a family tradition that spans generations. Many are second, third, or even fourth generation farmers. Relying only on coffee production for income, they have mastered various processing methods, including this washed process. The coffee is fermented in cherry for 12 hours after floating the batches to remove lower-density cherries. They de-pulp the daily lots and then ferment them in parchment for another 12 to 20 hours until ready to be washed, and then dried to a moisture content of 10% - 11%.

Chalatenango is a region of artisans, painters, and artists. The picturesque town of La Palma is blessed with breathtaking landscapes and a perfect climate. Most beautifully of all, this place is famous for its murals painted in many colors, and that's how this coffee got its name.The artisans in La Palma also create handcrafted items and paint them in the bright colors that have become the decoration of this beautiful small town.