Knowledge · plant
Lempira
Coffea arabica × canephora (Catimor-type)
1 min read
Key facts
- Type
- Catimor-type hybrid
- Released
- Honduras, 1996
- Parent varieties
- Caturra, Timor Hybrid
- Key strength
- High-yielding, early rust resistance
- Flavor profile
- Sweet and balanced
- Notable achievement
- Made Honduras Central America's largest producer
- Challenge
- Rust resistance overcome around 2017
Lempira is a Catimor-type variety released in Honduras in 1996 and named for the national hero and currency. Compact and high-yielding with strong early rust resistance, it was planted widely and helped Honduras become Central America's largest producer — but around 2017 a new race of leaf rust began overcoming its resistance, prompting farmers to diversify. Its rise and partial fall illustrate the ongoing arms race between coffee breeders and the rust fungus.
At a glance
- Scientific name: Coffea arabica × canephora (Catimor-type)
- Parent varieties: Caturra, Timor Hybrid
- Identified: 1996
- Flavor: Sweet and balanced when well grown.
- Aroma: Mild, sweet.
- Disease resistance: High historically (rust); later breakdown
- Cup potential: Good
See also