Tsiriari
Source: Association of Producers
Region: Central south jungle
Department: Junín
Elevation: 600-900m
Yearly Rainfall: ~1400 mm (55 inches)
Genetics: Local Native with Criollos and Trinitarios
Harvest Season: Mar - Aug
Tasting Notes: Complex herbal: boreal forest, olives, ferns; hints of cocoa, raisin, grapefruit.
Fermentation Style: 6-7 days in Tornillo hardwood boxes; daily bean rotation after first 2 days.
Drying Style: 6-8 days – sun then shade dried. On tarps and mesh drying shelves.
Emerging from the mid-southern jungle in the department of Junín and harvested at an altitude of 600-900m, this fine-flavoured mix of Local Native, Criollo, and Trinitario beans has a complex herbal flavour profile with hints of olive, boreal forest, fern, cocoa, butterscotch, raisin, and grapefruit.
Not only is the Tsiriari bean’s flavour profile complex, but so is its origins: the VRAE region.
Historically, this has been an area with considerable coca leaf production—a crop with various medicinal functions that’s inextricably linked to the Indigenous way of life which, unfortunately, also happens to be the main ingredient in cocaine. As a way of freeing people from the oppressive farming conditions and to disrupt the illicit cocaine supply chain, the Peruvian government alongside other international governments have been incentivizing alternative crop growing, like coffee and cacao.
For over 15 years, this international collaboration has assisted farmers with networking, infrastructure, management, and security, enabling the people of this area to diversify their crops, adopt more environmentally sustainable farming practices, and generate more dependable income.
A classic case in point is the Warmi Tsinani Women Entrepreneurs Association which we primarily work with in this area. This very small yet impressive association was founded in 2010, is currently comprised of 14 active and 2 inactive women members, has a total of 25 hectares of planted cacao, and produces an average of roughly 18 metric tonnes of premium fine-flavoured beans. Aside from cacao, it also farms coffee, corn, ginger, tapioca root, and banana.
It’s groups like these that excite us about what we do. And when you try this fine-flavoured bean in your chocolate making, we think you’ll see what all the excitement is about.
5kg boxes & 25kg sack available in our shop. For any other volumes please contact us.