The staff of the Economic Section of the American Embassy in Haiti recently visited the Cooperative of Coffee Growers of the Borough of Belle-Anse (COOPCAB) located in Thiotte [Southeast].

Representatives of the Embassy have visited the Cooperative, a drying zone, attended to a decortication operations and of packaging. In a nursery of 250,000 plans of coffee, they attended a demonstration of pruning technique and in a plantation, a composting operations.

COOPCAB is preparing for the 2011 harvest, beginning in September, in which it hopes to purchase, process and ship hundreds of thousands of pounds of green, dried coffee beans to the US, Japan and Europe.

COOPCAB grind and grate "small quantities" of three varieties of coffee for local and overseas sales and consumption. The varieties are named "Forêt des Pins Bleus (1), Café Marre Blanche (2), and Kafé Gwo Chwal (3)". The Economic and Commercial Section of the American Embassy has begun discussions with various stakeholders in the public and private sector who may be interested to provide a financial support, to the COOPCAB by making purchases or making investments in the cooperative.


Learn more :

(1) Café Forêt des Pins Bleus :

The Café Forêt des Pins Bleus comes from the best coffee producing region of Haiti called Thiotte (where is also the headquarters of COOPCAB), in south-east. Coffee is grown at an altitude of 1.300 to 1.350 meters. The infusion is characterized by an aroma and a superb fragrance, balanced acidity, a round body and a good aftertaste. All grains are dried in the sun, which explains their bluish color. The Café de la Forêt des Pins Bleus, is considered by connoisseurs in Italy, as the best coffee for espresso.

(2) Café Marre Blanche :

This coffee comes from the region bearing the same name in the mountains of south-east of Haiti. It is cultivated at an altitude of 1.400 meters and has a strong aroma with citrus flavors and a grassy aftertaste. The Green beans of Marre Blanche were the best sellers, on the Japanese market in 2009. The infusion has a wonderful aroma and a strong fragrance and good acidity and a round body. The Café Marre Blanche, without added sugar because of its natural sweetness, is appreciated by connoisseurs.

(3) Kafé Gwo Chwal :

Gwo Chwal (Creole for "Big Horse") comes from the region of the same name, in the West Department of Haiti. Like the other coffee of COOPCAB, this coffee is dried in the sun. Kafe Gwo Chwal grows at an altitude of 1.500 to 1.600 meters. This is probably the best gourmet coffee from Haiti. The tasting of Gwo Chwal was a delight for the international community because of its beautiful fragrance, its complex aroma and a lemony aftertaste. This coffee has good acidity and a round body.

HL/ HaitiLibre / COOPCAB