Panama | Mama Cata Estate | Geisha | Natural

Region: Los Naranjos, Boquete, Chiriqui

Elevation: 1500 - 1700 masl

About: The Garrido family has been cultivating coffee in Boquete, Panama, since 1959, when Teodoro Garrido established the family’s first farm. In the mid-1970s, Teodoro expanded the business by acquiring another existing farm, now known as Mama Cata. Originally established in 1911, it is one of Boquete’s oldest coffee farms. Teodoro renamed the property in honour of its previous owner. Following Teodoro’s passing a few years ago, the family farms are now overseen by his two daughters, Liliana and Gissell. Fiercely passionate and markedly different in character, the sisters share a clear vision to carry their father’s work into the future. 

The Garrido family has placed in the top ten across all three Best of Panama categories—Geisha Washed, Geisha Natural, and Varietal—on multiple occasions, with many of those coffees coming from Mama Cata. This Geisha lot was processed as a traditional natural and dried at the Garrido family’s mill on custom raised beds. Drawing inspiration from another of Teodoro’s passions, rose cultivation, the drying beds sit inside a large greenhouse. This approach allows for precise temperature control through adjustable ventilation and increased vertical capacity, with beds stacked four high.

This Panama Geisha, sourced from the Mama Cata Estate in the Los Naranjos region of Boquete, Chiriqui, represents a meticulous collaboration between the Garrido family and Proud Mary Coffee. Grown at elevations between 1500 and 1700 masl, this lot showcases the Geisha varietal, which is globally celebrated for its distinct, elegant profile. The coffee is produced within the unique microclimates of Panama · Los Naranjos, Boquete, Chiriqui, a region renowned for its contribution to high-quality specialty coffee production.

By utilizing a natural process, the producers allow the coffee cherry to dry around the bean, a method often associated with increased sweetness and complex body. When evaluating the nuances of such a refined lot, tasters often consult a flavor wheel to identify the intricate layers of fruit and floral characteristics that define this exceptional harvest. This offering highlights the intersection of traditional family farming and the specific environmental conditions found in the Panamanian highlands.