Incahuasi SL9 Variety

The rugged and remote Incahuasi Valley is home to some of the most unique coffees we buy in South America. When we first started exploring this area with the help of our importing partner, Red Fox Coffee Merchants, we tasted samples from a few farms that stood out for their stunning complexity. We later learned this was the result of a unique coffee variety that producers referred to simply as "Inca gesha." There was certainly a resemblance to other geshas we've tried, both in the plant's appearance and in the cup, but there were also some differences. Genetic testing later revealed that this mystery variety did not at all match gesha's genetic fingerprint, but was most closely related to SL9 — a rarely cultivated variety with origins in East Africa. Though little is know about the origins of SL9, it was studied by plant breeders in the early 20th century and is thought to have been transferred to a research site in southern Peru sometime in the 1950s.

From there, it's unclear how this variety spread to a handful of farms across the region. Its popularity is growing, and though not widely cultivated, we have seen more of this variety pop up all over Peru as word of its undeniable cup quality spreads. This lot is a blend of SL9 from two neighboring farms, managed by Lucio Luque and Eudis Orosco, near the small town of Amaybamba. We've been purchasing tiny amounts of this coffee from these producers since 2018, and we're excited to finally have enough to share with our single-origin subscribers. What stands out are flavors of ripe strawberry and a range of tropical fruits like mango and starfruit, laced with complex floral notes.

Pronunciation: een-cuh-WAH-see

Sourced from the Incahuasi Valley in Peru, this Incahuasi SL9 variety represents a unique collaboration between producers Lucio Luque and Eudis Orosco. The SL9 varietal is a rare find in the region, and when roasted by Counter Culture Coffee, it highlights a vibrant profile defined by ripe strawberry, mango, and starfruit. These tropical fruit characteristics are often complemented by complex floral notes, creating a cup that is both layered and distinct.

When evaluating such nuanced profiles, it is helpful to reference the flavor wheel to better identify the specific fruit and floral descriptors present in the brew. While the SL9 varietal is known for its specific genetic lineage, the final expression in the cup is a testament to the careful cultivation practices employed by Luque and Orosco in the high-altitude terrain of the Incahuasi Valley. This coffee offers a compelling look at the evolving landscape of Peruvian specialty production.