Bloody Boozy Orange

ACALEM DE R.L. (Asociacion Agropecuaria Caficultora de la Sierra Lenca de Morazán de Responsabilidad Limitada) was
established in 2011 in the highlands of Morazán, El Salvador. The association brings together 47 members and individual
producers, focused on innovation and sustainability. They follow the Blue Harvest approach promoted by CRS and this year
produced special lots for !Fest Coffee Mission using natural and anaerobic fermentation of 90–120 hours. All beans are hand-
selected.

Farms are located at 1,000–1,250 MASL, mainly cultivating the Cuscatleco variety. After fermentation, coffees are sun-dried on
African beds and patios. Harvest runs from November to February (sometimes March), with only ripe cherries hand-picked and
separated by cup profile. Coffees are dried to a moisture level of 10.50–11.50%. The region, the Sierra Lenca / Cacahuatique
Mountain Range, has clayey loam soils, organic matter, shade canopies, and rich biodiversity. These farms are part of a vital
watershed, protecting water sources, soils, and wildlife. The harvest also involved women and youth, generating income and
supporting community resilience.

In the highlands of Morazán, the Sierra Lenca and Cacahuatique
mountain ranges create ideal conditions for specialty coffee.
Elevations of 1,000–1,250 meters bring cooler air, steady
rainfall, and year-round humidity, allowing coffee cherries to
ripen more slowly and develop layered, complex flavors. The
presence of cloud forests helps stabilize the microclimate,
protecting plants from extremes while maintaining biodiversity
and fertile soils.

Coffee cultivation in El Salvador began in the 19th century and
soon became the backbone of the country’s economy, at one
point contributing around half of the GDP. Though civil war and
disease later disrupted production, regions like Morazán
preserved strong coffee traditions.