This coffee is collected from farms in the municipality of San Pedro de Tutule, part of the La Paz department in southwestern Honduras. This region, near the Montecillos Reserve, is called “the land of stones” by the indigenous Lencas due to its dense forest cover and mountainous terrain. The La Paz region has clay-loam soils and a temperate climate.
Coffee trees here receive less sunlight; therefore, fruit yield is low, but quality is higher. The trees mostly grow under the shade of banana trees.
Montecillos is the first region in Honduras to receive Denomination of Origin status, and this title is registered under the name Café de Marcala.
Among thousands of coffees grown in Honduras, Montecillos coffees were selected, ranking among the top 3% of the country in the 2016 Cup of Excellence.