Costa Rica | Central Valley Region | Las Lajas Estate Black Honey | Black Soul Process

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FrontStreet Coffee Single Origin Coffee Recommendation: Costa Rica Black Honey and Costa Rica Angel Manor Natural

Product Name: Costa Rica Las Lajas Manor Black Honey (Fruit Wine Flavor)

(Costa Rica Finca Las Lajas Black Honey)

Flavor Description:

Dried pineapple, fruit wine flavor, brown sugar, persistent and full sweetness, thick body.

Region:

Central Valley region, Sabanilla de Alajuela.

Manor:

Las Lajas Manor (Finca Las Lajas).

Varieties:

Caturra & Catuai.

Altitude:

1300 to 1500 meters.

Grade:

SHB Micro lot.

Processing Method:

Black Honey Processing.

Harvest Period:

N/A

Certification:

N/A

Manor Introduction:

Among the refined natural and honey processing methods now popular in Costa Rica, Las Lajas Manor is one of the earliest estates to research and implement them systematically. For many years it has been a coffee estate highly favored by global buyers. Las Lajas Manor is currently run jointly by third-generation owner Francisca Cubillo and her husband Oscar. The estate is in the Central Valley region, not far from the capital and quite close to Poas Volcano. Its altitude ranges between 1300 and 1500 meters, with an annual production of about 55,200 kilograms.

Many years ago, owner Francisca hoped to further enhance the flavor expression of the estate's coffee. At the time, the vast majority of Costa Rican farmers used traditional washed processing to supply the American and European markets. So the owner began researching and improving the estate's many facilities to better meet the needs of natural and honey processing. During harvest, the owner uses a sweetness meter (BRIX) to screen cherries that meet the standard, while establishing their own washing station for processing and finally placing the beans on African beds for sun drying.

Among the coffees processed at Las Lajas Manor, the owner categorizes honey- and natural-processed lots into various items based on flavor expression. For honey processing, Costa Rican farmers mostly control the amount of remaining pulp through the depulper at the washing station, but Las Lajas Manor decided on a different approach: retaining 100% of the highest proportion of pulp while controlling the drying time and turning frequency on African beds to present different expressions. The owner divides honey processing into yellow honey, red honey, and black honey.

Yellow Honey Processing:

After removing the skin, the beans are uniformly placed on African beds at dawn for sun drying and turned immediately.

Red Honey Processing:

After removing the skin, the beans are uniformly placed on African beds at dawn for sun drying and turned at noon.

Black Honey Processing:

After removing the skin, the beans are uniformly placed on African beds at dawn for sun drying and turned in the afternoon.

Yellow Diamond:

After removing the skin, the pulp-covered raw beans are spread out to dry on concrete ground for one day, then covered with black plastic for shade and rest for one day.

For natural processing, many more delicate flavor expressions are created through the method of shading with plastic.

Black Pearl Processing Method:

Harvested cherries are placed on African beds at dawn and regularly turned for sun drying until they reach 11.5% moisture content. The entire process takes about two weeks.

Black Soul Processing Method:

Harvested cherries are placed on African beds at dawn and regularly turned for sun drying for one day, then covered with plastic for shade and rest until they reach 11.5% moisture content. The entire process takes about three weeks.

In terms of fertilization, the owner strictly requires all processes to follow organic standards for cultivation and fertilization. The entire estate uses organic homemade compost, and extends organic standards to soil quality, shade trees, and washing-plant procedures. After years of effort, Las Lajas Manor has now obtained Japan JAS, USDA, and NOP organic certifications.

The owner insists on harvesting only mature, fully red fruit and mostly uses honey and natural processing to enhance the coffee's sweetness, while placing the beans on African-style drying beds to ensure even sunlight and avoid over-fermentation. The estate also actively pursues international organic certifications and has currently obtained USDA, AS, and NOP certifications from international organic institutions.

This micro lot from Las Lajas Manor, Black Honey processed, comes from a famous specialty-bean producer renowned for its excellent black honey processing techniques and fine cultivation management. It presents nearly perfect classic flavors and demonstrates impeccable quality.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If black honey processing is what draws you in, the FrontStreet Costa Rica Blackberry is the closest match. It uses a distinctive black honey process that removes almost none of the mucilage and dries for at least two weeks under shade cloth so the sugars convert fully, and it is turned regularly to prevent uneven fermentation from overheating. Roasted medium-light, it gives off a rich fresh-flower aroma and drinks with grape, berry, and ripe blackberry character.

To explore how far honey processing can go, try the FrontStreet Costa Rica Mozart. Its raisin honey process is an innovative take on the traditional yellow, red, and black honey methods: the whole cherry is pre-dried on raised beds for at least three days before the skin and pulp are removed, retaining 100% of the pectin - a method even harder to control than black honey because timing must be precise. It brings a richer, warmer fruit sweetness, so whether you brew it by pour-over, cold brew, or moka pot, you get distinctive osmanthus, pineapple, and raisin aromas.

And if you want honey-processing flavor blended with Geisha elegance, the FrontStreet Strawberry Candy pairs a Panama Geisha with a Costa Rican raisin-honey coffee, using a 100% pectin, zero-water method. It holds the Geisha's floral, tea-like lift along with grape and raisin notes, soft fruit acidity, an almond finish, and a clear sweetness.