Geisha coffee was once again named the best in Panama

Geisha, a luxury coffee from Panama and one of the most expensive in the world, returned this Saturday to conquer the palates of 18 international judges from seven countries, setting a new quality record among specialty coffees, with 96.50 points, in XXVII. International tasting of the best of Panama (BOP).

The lot awarded with this score of 96.50 out of 100 among the Washed Geisha coffees was that of Carmen Estate Coffee, from the farm of the same name, which followed with the best score, but in the Geisha Natural category, lot De la Rosa from the farm Mount Totumas Coffee, which crowned with 96.25 points.

Varietal coffees were hand in hand with the Geishas in scoring, reaching 92.38 points with the Chicho Gallo Natural Gold Selection lot from the Guarumo coffee farm.

At the XXVII international tasting of the best from Panama, organized by the Association of Specialized Coffees of Panama (SCAP), 186 batches of coffee of 42 kilograms each competed, and on August 2, 25 kilograms of coffee were finally offered at the BOP electronic auction. from the lots that received the most points in this competition.

Five of the 18 international judges from Australia, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Bulgaria and the United States gave their Geisha Cups 100 points, a historic value, confirmed Australia’s Will Young, the head judge who presided over the competition.

“I am very satisfied, especially with the last two tables because I tasted the best coffees of my life. The best attributes were the ‘terroir’ and the attributes of the traditional Panamanian geishas that shone in every cup,” he said in a statement. to the media. Young.

The French term ‘terroir’, or terroir in Spanish, refers to the combination of characteristics that influence the quality of the crop, in this case coffee, such as soil, biodiversity, climate and topography.

Hunter Tedman, president of SCAP, said that Panama specialty coffees receive the highest ratings and prices in the specialty coffee industry in the world, and the top-ranked ones are truly exotic cups.

PANAMA COFFEE TASTING

In the midst of complete silence, in which only sips and the clinking of cups could be heard, the finest coffee in the world was tasted, which was listed by experts from more than 11 countries, who traveled to Panama to test 72 batches. semi-finalists from producers from the province of Chiriquí, in the north of the country.

Every year, producers select their best coffee, harvested at an altitude between 1,500 and 2,100 meters above sea level between slopes and slopes, where the Atlantic and Pacific winds meet, some of the factors that give it its unique taste. from Panamanian experts, María Ruiz, told EFE.

Judges rate attributes such as acidity, body, flavor and balance of each batch in each cup.

According to the organizers of the event, among the characteristics of the classic Panama Geisha are the aromas of jasmine, lemongrass, bergamot with sour orange peel, something that makes it a luxurious coffee with pronounced acidity.

“The flavors represented by Geisha from Panama are similar to those fruits that have hard and large seeds such as apricots, peaches, peaches, which are sweet and ripe yellow fruits, accompanied by a silky body with a tendency to harden, depending on their origin.” Ruiz noted.

Panama’s coffee industry is marginal, but the country has specialized in the production of specialty coffees such as geisha, which sell at record prices, especially in Asia and Europe.

For a Geisha from Panama, the highest price per pound ($2,568) was paid in 2021, purchased by a Japanese buyer.