This washed microlot comes from Merly León, producer at Finca La Palta, located in Queromarca, northern Peru. Her 12-hectare farm is located at over 2200m altitude, a privileged height where sunny days and cool temperatures create ideal conditions for the development of highly complex coffees.

Merly is 37 years old and was born in Santa Teresa de Queromarca. She is known in her community for her persevering character and for always seeking to improve the quality and productivity of her farm. Together with her sister Ismeria, also a producer in the region, she is part of the Aromas del Valle cooperative, where they work collectively to improve agricultural practices and the value of their coffees.

Queromarca was one of the first areas where coffee was grown in the entire district of Callayuc. Before that, farmers in the region were mainly dedicated to corn, potatoes or livestock. Today, thanks to its altitude and the diversity of microclimates, the area has become a particularly interesting environment for the production of specialty coffees.

The Callayuc region, located in the province of Cutervo (Cajamarca), combines tropical rainforest, mountains and fertile valleys. This diverse landscape, with altitudes exceeding 2800m, creates an ecosystem rich in biodiversity where coffee coexists with forests and permanent crops that are part of the agricultural balance of the area.

For this lot, ripe cherries are selected by flotation before starting the process. They then undergo 48h of anaerobic fermentation, are depulped and continue fermenting for another 42h before washing. The coffee is then dried on raised African beds for approximately 17–18 days, allowing for slow and even drying.

This work is reinforced by the Aromas del Valle cooperative, which in recent years has promoted specific training on fermentation and processing with the aim of improving cup complexity and increasing added value for producers.

The result is a clean and expressive coffee, reflecting both the altitude of Queromarca and the careful work of Merly and her community.