Nassia Salvador
📍 Taipiplaya, Province of Caranavi, Department of La Paz, Bolivia
What surprised us:
Finca Monte Cielo is owned by 3 female producers. Wilma and her two daughters Nassia and Jharka are working very diligently on their finca, their ancestors’ heritage, and put a lot of emphasis on plant and soil management.
Finca Monte Cielo is one of the best examples for dynamic agroforestry in the region.
Nassia, the eldest daughter, has given her grandparents' finca a new lease of life. After many years of traditional coffee cultivation, i.e. without any special plant management, she re-planned the area. Siquiles, citrus trees and other useful and shade trees were systematically planted and new coffee plants were introduced. The three female producers take great care to ensure that older coffee plants remain fertile for as long as possible by regularly pruning them and keeping them clean, i.e. removing weeds.
Nassia is very active politically because she has the opinion that "you shall not complain when you don't change anything yourself." She leads environmental and social workshops in her community and she’s trying to get her peers and other women excited about coffee and agroforestry systems.
Our story with Nassia:
This is a funny one! Ann-Kathrin joined a Bolivian folklore group for dancing in Berlin, Bolivia. There she got to know Jharka, who had heard of Ann-Kathrin's coffee brand. Jharka was a barista and working at a renowned Berlin coffee roastery. She is also Wilma's daughter and Nassia's sister.
As Ann-Kathrin already had started working with Asocafé back then, she included a visit to Jharka's family the next time she went to Taipiplaya. Wilma is a member of the cooperative at the same time. The circle closed and until today Ann-Kathrin, Jharka, Wilma and Nassia work very closely together and share learnings and experiences.
Processing: The finca is located on 1.650 m above sea level, on the highest point it is 1.750 m. This makes it hard to process natural dried coffees sometimes because the climate is quite cool. Anyhow it helps with the slow maduration of the cherries and you will notice that Monte Cielo coffee is especially sweet!
Nassia processes most of her coffee washed, her natural processed Catuaí is processed anaerobically. It is rare and limited and has a complex profile reminiscent of sweet, red berries like strawberry, red cassis and copoazú.
Biography: Whilst her mother is still in charge mainly of the hotel, her older daughter Nassia never misses an opportunity to further her education in coffee. She cups, she talks to other producers, she broadens her horizon in every single way.
She is now mainly in charge of Finca Monte Cielo.
Her sister Jharka is a SCA certified barista and as she did a volunteer service in Germany, she has practiced in different coffee shops in Berlin. She is now studying International Business in Germany and we are especially happy to have her around!
Dreams and Motivation:
For Nassia, Wilma and Jharka it is really the environmental aspect which drive them on. You will find many wild animals and rare birds on their finca. Macaws, howler monkeys, jaguars at night...
Finca Monte Cielo is a paradise for animals and plants alike. And the preservation of their natural habitat is a top priority for Wilma, Nassia and Jharka. Together with producing high quality coffee for export, because they see themselves as a role model in the region. "We want more women to be motivated to start their business", Wilma says. "Together we can."
Contact Us
info@caraya-coffee.com
+49160 985 386 15
Lienemannstr. 23, 13403 Berlin