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Getting to know the 6 regions of Honduran coffee

Coffee enthusiasts – or would-be enthusiasts – ought to know their coffees; and with this, it is important to know the largest coffee exporter in Central America, the third in Latin America, and the sixth largest exporter worldwide: Honduras.

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Coffee enthusiasts – or would-be enthusiasts – ought to know their coffees; and with this, it is important to know the largest coffee exporter in Central America, the third in Latin America, and the sixth largest exporter worldwide: Honduras.

honduras-coffee

Over the past few years, coffee has become one of Honduras’ most prized exports due to its sweet aromas and rich flavors. Each of the country’s six coffee producing regions adds a nuanced flavor, making Honduran coffee some of the best coffee in the world.

  1. Copán: Located near the Guatemalan border in altitudes of 1000-1500 meters, Copán produces a full, robust flavor with a hint of chocolate, while remaining balanced and pleasant. Last year, in a joint project between the government and coffee producers, they created the Ruta del Café, which runs the length of the country, where visitors can enjoy the different flavors of Honduran coffee, often beginning in Copán.
  2. Opalaca: The Opalaca region runs to the east of Copán, with a slightly higher altitude, reaching 1100-1600 meters. This region’s coffee tends to have a slightly acidic taste, strong aroma, with delicate flavors of tropical fruits like grapes and berries. The Opalaca region gets recognized in conjunction with the “Taza de Excelencia” award, where a local farmer nominated Honduras to the “Cup of Excellence Award” looking to find the best cup of coffee in the world based on flavor and price ratios.
  3. Montecillos: Situated on the southern tip of the Honduran/Salvadoran border, farmers in Montecillo cultivate a unique cup of coffee with sweet, fruity flavors of orange and peach, paired with a strong acidity that gives a velvet-like body. The highest coffee producing region in Honduras with altitudes reaching 1200-1600 meters, the coffee from Montecillos reflects the drink’s superior quality and taste within the world market. Café Marcala, a local brand in Montecillos, was the first registered brand of coffee in Honduras and Central America assuring it as a trusted and respected flavor.
  4. Comayagua: Hidden in the center of the country, Comayagua coffee is harvested in December to March. In a cup of Comayagua, you can expect a sweet citrus flavor combined with a bright level of acidity, giving it a creamy body. As seen in Comayagua, along with other regions of Honduras, the climate and geography of each region adds to its high quality and delicious flavor.
  5. Agalta: Located inland in a more tropical climate, with altitudes of 1100-1400 meters grows coffee from the Agalta region. Similar to Comayagua, it is only harvested from December to March for optimal flavor. Agalta coffee offers a diverse collection of tropical fruit flavors, with scents of caramel and chocolate, making it the perfect after-dinner drink. Honduran coffee, boasts the high quality work ethic of “manos hondureñas”, which allows the country to be a leader in the industry thanks to the work of hundreds of Honduran coffee farmers that work hard every day to produce the highest quality of coffee.
  6. El Paraíso: One of the lowest coffee producing regions, reaching only 1100-1400 meters of altitude, El Paraíso touches the Nicaraguan border. This region’s profile reflects citric flavors with a sweet scent, a soft body and acidity, with a persistent after-taste. As a part of the Ruta del Café, the coffee found in El Paraíso, together with the coffee from the other five regions “allows us to give the best of Honduras to domestic tourists as well as foreigners, while providing greater opportunities for our farmers,” as said by René León Gómez, the general manager of the Honduran Coffee Institute (IHCAFÉ).

The geographical diversity of this Central American country provides coffee connoisseurs with six unique flavor profiles that together, all make one constant product: the world’s best coffee.

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Manulife Wealth and Asset Management appoints Fabio Fontainha as Head of Asia

Fabio will be a member of the Manulife WAM leadership team and Manulife’s Global Leadership Team (GLT). He will be based in Hong Kong and report to Paul Lorentz and will also have accountability into Phil Witherington, President and CEO, Manulife Asia.

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Manulife Wealth and Asset Management (Manulife WAM), the global wealth and asset management business of Manulife that brings investment solutions to institutional, retirement, and retail customers across the globe, has announced Fabio Fontainha as its new Head of Wealth & Asset Management, Asia, effective February 2025. Fabio succeeds Michael Dommermuth, who is leaving the firm at the end of the year.

“We are excited for Fabio to build on the momentum that has been growing for Manulife Wealth and Asset Management in Asia as we look to provide wealth and investment solutions to even more investors. We believe his expertise in key areas of focus for our business will make his transition into the role feel tangible almost immediately,” said Paul Lorentz, President and CEO, Manulife Wealth and Asset Management. “We are also appreciative of Michael’s commitment to our firm and the impact he has had on our expansion in multiple markets over more than two decades, ranging from multiple emerging Asia markets including India, as well as the conversion of our joint venture in China into a wholly-owned entity in Manulife Fund Management. We are grateful for his leadership that has provided broader capabilities to our clients across Asia.”

Fabio will be a member of the Manulife WAM leadership team and Manulife’s Global Leadership Team (GLT). He will be based in Hong Kong and report to Paul Lorentz and will also have accountability into Phil Witherington, President and CEO, Manulife Asia.

Fabio will collaborate closely with all country and regional heads, chief investment officers, and global product teams to deliver investment capabilities for the region. He will also drive Manulife WAM’s strategic growth plans locally and provide local oversight to the retail, retirement and institutional businesses, partner closely with local functional heads, and serve as a touch point for teams working on strategic initiatives throughout Asia.

Fabio was previously at Citigroup where he had an extensive career spanning more than three decades including experience with consumer and private wealth, as well as retail markets. He has also lived and worked in Tokyo, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur during this time. He most recently served as Global Business Execution Head – Citi Private Bank. Throughout his career he has managed global, regional, and local businesses in Asia, Latin America, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East with various mandates including Head of Retail Banking for Citi across APAC (Asia Pacific) and EMEA (Europe Middle East Africa).

“I’m delighted to be joining Manulife WAM at a significant inflection point in their business. I have been privileged to see the expansion and growth in Asia throughout my career and admire the progress and the commitment Manulife WAM has made to serve its clients in the region,” said Fabio. “I am looking forward to bringing my knowledge and expertise to this role and help to meet the goals of our institutional, retail and retirement clients.”

Manulife WAM believes its business will see additional organic growth opportunities as a result of prevalent global megatrends including the retirement savings gap, increased longevity and the need for individuals to prepare for potentially spending additional years – or even decades – in retirement compared to previous generations, and the anticipated demand from both the middle class and high net-worth populations who are seeking additional solutions to save and invest and new strategies to diversify their portfolios.

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PhilCare members can now access Healthway’s full-service offerings

This development comes on the heels of a recent partnership that allows PhilCare members to receive leading-edge, holistic, and affordable cancer treatment via the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH).

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PhilCare, one of the country’s top HMO providers, has entered into a partnership with Healthway Multi-Specialty Centers (HMC), the clinic arm of Healthway Medical Network (HMN), to provide its members access to their full suite of services, from diagnostics to primary care.

This development comes on the heels of a recent partnership that allows PhilCare members to receive leading-edge, holistic, and affordable cancer treatment via the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH).

“We are excited to be joining forces with PhilCare as they are aligned with our entire care continuum model that starts from screening, diagnosis, and treatment, all the way to post-recovery. We’re happy that their members can now access our multi-specialty clinics and hospitals located all over the Philippines,” said Mr. Jaime Ysmael, Healthway Medical Network President and CEO.

“Our Healthway Multi-Specialty Centers are very eager to develop special programs and packages for PhilCare members, as well as to deliver high-quality care to them in the most efficient way possible. I am certain that the partnership will expand to other exciting mutually beneficial initiatives,” Mr. Ysmael continued.

According to PhilCare Executive Vice President for Operations Raymond Tiangco, the partnership is a testament to the alignment of the goals, mission, and vision of PhilCare and Healthway Medical Network, through its Multi-Speciatly Centers, to provide quality care to the Filipinos – and this sets his company apart from the rest of the market.

“Unlike other HMOs that are putting up their own clinics, PhilCare has a different plan,” he added. “We intend to partner with experts. And there is no more premium brand than Healthway when it comes to delivering healthcare services.”

Healthway Multi-Specialty Centers COO Edwin Magsino said that HMC is happy to become the go-to provider of PhilCare members for essential healthcare needs. He is confident that the partnership will satisfy the needs of many people—from their entry to the clinic all the way to their availment of HMC services.

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Watson boosts global expansion, unveils 16,800th store worldwide

This store was opened in Rotterdam, marking a remarkable milestone in AS Watson’s ongoing expansion and its commitment to delivering a seamless and exceptional O+O (Offline plus Online) customer experience.

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As Watson, the parent company of Watsons Philippines, announced the grand opening of its 16,800th store worldwide, further consolidating its position as the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, with a portfolio of 12 brands operating across 29 markets. This store was opened in Rotterdam, marking a remarkable milestone in AS Watson’s ongoing expansion and its commitment to delivering a seamless and exceptional O+O (Offline plus Online) customer experience.

Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson, expressed her excitement at the store opening ceremony, “The opening of our 16,800th store represents more than our growth as a company – it symbolises our commitment to serving the communities worldwide. With every store we open, we create jobs, foster customer relationships, and build lasting trust.”

“16,800 is a number with special meaning in Chinese culture. The number 6 symbolises ‘everything goes smoothly’ while 8 represents ‘good fortune’. We embrace the special meaning of this milestone and look forward to a future of lasting success and prosperity, not only for our business growth but also in extending these best wishes for a brighter future for the world during this festive Christmas season,” Malina added.

Commitment to Continuous Growth

Ed van de Weerd, CEO of AS Watson Benelux, remarked, “We’re honoured that AS Watson’s 16,800th store worldwide opens in vibrant Rotterdam, demonstrating AS Watson’s steadfast commitment to growth in the Benelux region and globally. As the No. 1 health and beauty retailer in the Netherlands, Kruidvat serves its customers with nearly 1,000 O+O stores and over 24,000 passionate colleagues and has become an integral part of many Dutch people’s lives.”

The brand-new store will serve over 11,000 customers every week. As one of the largest Kruidvat stores, it spans over 770 square meters and is designed to enhance O+O shopping experience with clear in-store navigation. The store offers an extensive assortment of over 36,000 products, making it the largest selection among all Kruidvat stores.

Watsons Philippines operates in over 1,100 stores nationwide, reflecting its commitment to bringing health, wellness, and beauty closer to every Filipino. Enhancing this experience is the Watsons app, which provides customers access to exclusive deals, personalized recommendations, and convenient services such as Click & Collect and home delivery.

Looking ahead, AS Watson remains committed to innovation and excellence in customer experience, and will continue its growth journey with the purpose of putting a smile on the customers’ faces today and tomorrow. 

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