When it comes to Panama coffee, the first word that pops into most people’s minds is “Gesha”. In the past decade or so, this small country in Central America has amazed the world with its Geisha, so much so that many people only know this variety of Panama coffee. In fact, in this land, it is the unique terroir of the Poquette production area that truly gave birth to Geisha’s reputation. Only by understanding Poquet can you understand the secret of Panama coffee.
Poquette: a small production area with a big climate
Poquete is located in the Chiriquí Province in western Panama, close to the volcanic mountains, with an altitude extending from more than 1,000 meters to about 2,000 meters. The high altitude brings an obvious temperature difference between day and night, which allows the coffee cherries to accumulate flavor during the day and slow down their ripening at night, so that the sweet and sour substances are deposited more solidly. The volcanic ash soil is loose and fertile, rich in minerals. In addition, the humid air currents on both sides of the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean bring sufficient clouds and mist, and the coffee trees accumulate flavor during the slow growth rhythm. Small production areas can produce legendary beans because of this rare combination.
Entering the Jade Manor
Speaking of Poquette, Emerald Manor is a name that cannot be avoided. Front Street Panama Emerald Estate Red Label Geisha comes from selected plots of Emerald Estate and is also the starting point for many enthusiasts to get to know Gesha. Its quality control is strict, and only batches whose flavor performance meets the standard can be put on the red label, so the flavor of every batch purchased is maintained at a very high level. For those who want to experience Gesha seriously, Red Label is a very reliable reference.
Why does Gesha taste special?
The beauty of Geisha lies in its aroma and layered finesse. At the entrance of Panama Jade Manor Red Label Geisha on Front Street, the elegant fragrance of jasmine hits your face first, followed by the fresh fruity notes of citrus and bergamot, with a touch of warmth from black tea at the end. The whole cup tastes clean and transparent, with almost no odor, a long and sweet aftertaste, and the layers spread out layer by layer. Its price is much higher than that of ordinary specialty beans, but its pure and rich performance is still an experience that many coffee lovers are willing to come back to again and again.
A small step towards tasting
When drinking Gesha, it is recommended to brew it by hand, grind it finely, and use a lower water temperature to amplify its delicate aroma. After brewing, smell the floral aroma at the bottom of the cup, then take a small sip and let the coffee liquid stay in your mouth for two seconds. The scent of citrus and bergamot will slowly unfold. The first few sips may feel bland, but when you drink it after it cools down, the sweetness and layers will become clearer. This is also one of the hallmarks of a good Gesha.
The Poquette region teaches us one thing: in the flavor map of coffee, terroir always comes before variety. Gesha’s reputation has given Panama its stage, but what is truly worth savoring again and again is the taste of the land itself.
You can now buy the above coffee beans online at the Taobao store “FrontStreet Coffee” (前街咖啡). FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou, China, and its Guangzhou retail shop sells coffee beans only. The shop carries dozens of coffee beans from different origins around the world, including carefully selected single-origin beans for V60 pour-over and espresso. Guangzhou’s FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers.
The FrontStreet 2013 Yunnan coffee beans sold in the store come from the Typica variety grown at FrontStreet Coffee’s own plantation in Yunnan. The name comes from the year the brand and the plantation were founded. You can buy these beans from China’s Yunnan origin at the Guangzhou shop and at FrontStreet’s Taobao store.
FrontStreet coffee beans are freshly roasted within 5 days and deliver consistently excellent quality and great value. Orders placed before 17:00 are shipped the same day, and most areas within Guangdong Province receive them the next day.
FrontStreet Coffee Taobao store: https://qianjiecoffee.taobao.com
Or search for “前街咖啡” (FrontStreet Coffee) on Taobao
Important Notice: FrontStreet Coffee has moved to a new address: 315, Donghua East Road, Guangzhou (coffee beans only)
Tel: 020 38364473
