True North - Guatemala La Concepcion

True North is our positive impact coffee, raising £1.00 in each retail bag for Trees for Life’s work to re-wild the Scottish Highlands.

We first got involved with Trees for Life in 2018 when we started our annual tree planting mission to offset our carbon footprint. The team has been out in sharp autumn winds and rain to plant a mix of Scots Pine, Rowan and Birch at Drundreggan estate and Grey Willow in Glen Affric.

Since the charity was founded in 1993 Trees for Life has planted an incredible 1.7 million trees with 10,000 volunteers, re-wilding some 4,000 hectares of land in the Scottish Highlands. About 6,000 years ago an estimated 1.5 million hectares of Scotland was covered in rich native pinewoods. Now only about 1% of this original forest is left, broken down into small and isolated fragments. Much of the wildlife dependent on the forest has been lost.

Trees for Life is committed to a much more ambitious vision than just tree planting. The charity is also at the forefront of promoting re-wilding as a new approach to land management that can benefit both wildlife and rural communities.

Other initiatives that Trees for Life have worked on include an assessment of the health of remaining pine wood fragments in partnership with The Woodland Trust. The Trees for Life Skills for Rewilding programme is an amazing opportunity for five people each year to spend 12 months, fully funded, learning practical skills required to gain employment in the Scottish environmental sector.

50% of funds raised by our True North blend will go directly to planting trees and the remaining 50% will be dedicated to rewilding. As Trees for Life’s Head of Fundraising & Engagement Colin Mackenzie-Blackman puts it: “Rewilding requires long-term vision and commitment, which is why we are delighted to be working with Glen Lyon Coffee and the launch of True North. The Trees for Life vision is of a revitalised wild forest in the Scottish Highlands, enabling communities to thrive and wildlife to flourish. With Glen Lyon’s generous support we are a step closer to realising that vision.”

This particular lot comes from the El Cabro plot on the La Bolsa farm. It is of the Bourbon variety and was pre-fermented in bags, resulting in a heavily fruited cup profile.

Finca La Bolsa was bought by Jorge Vides, a distinguished medical professional, in 1958. Prior to this, the land was not used for coffee production. Jorge won numerous awards for coffee production and for his services to the Huehuetenango region, and the main hospital in the coffee-growing community was named after him. In 2002, La Bolsa competed in the Cup of Excellence competition and placed second, scoring 94.98.

La Bolsa sits between two mountains, which provide a very stable, humid microclimate. Combined with the limestone-rich soils, this gives the coffee a unique profile, with a rich, syrupy body and plenty of malic and citric acidity. Coffee is fermented for between 18 and 24 hours, then cleaned of mucilage, graded in channels, and soaked overnight.

La Bolsa is RFA-certified and follows C.A.F.E Practices guidelines. Coffee Care funded the construction of a school and nursery on the farm, staffed with fully trained, full-time teachers. All temporary and permanent staff have access to schooling for their children, and they are incentivized to leave their children at school or nursery through food donations. When a child attends school or nursery for five consecutive days, the family receives a weekly supply of rice, beans, and corn.

Before this food ration scheme, it was difficult to persuade parents to leave their children in the care of others, as schooling was not always valued and there was greater pressure to earn money to feed the family. As a result of the program, there are now no children working on the farm, and the school and nursery classes are full.

Accommodation is provided for both permanent and temporary workers, with separate facilities for men, women, and families, as well as bathrooms and kitchens. Sections of the farm are designated as conservation areas to promote biodiversity, reduce wind exposure, and prevent soil erosion. Inga trees are used as shade trees and to fix nitrogen in the soil, which is essential for plant and cherry growth. Renardo also operates an expansive composting program to make use of waste products, using red worms.

Our speciality coffees are 100% traceable and ethically sourced. We work direct with farmers, or through trusted partners, to bring you the best coffee from around the world.

Sourced through: Caribbean Goods
Relationship length: Since 2023

Caribbean Goods is dedicated to sourcing high-quality Guatemalan coffee through ethical, transparent trade. By building direct relationships with farmers, they ensure fair pay, sustainability, and exceptional coffee for roasters in the UK.