Region: Chinchipe, Zamora Chinchipe
Elevation: 1200-1650 masl
About: In Ecuador’s southern province of Zamora Chinchipe, Zumba sits at the heart of a coffee-growing region shaped by trade, migration and generations of smallholder farming. The producers behind Tesoros de Zumba are locally known as “Charapanos”, a name associated with the hardworking nature of the people who farm these mountains.
Many families have cultivated coffee here for three or four generations, preserving traditional varieties including Typica and Bourbon. Coffee remains their primary livelihood, while agroforestry, fruit and vegetable gardens, organic fertilisers and beekeeping help support both farm biodiversity and family income.
Caravela has worked with producers in the region since 2017 through its PECA team, providing farm visits and training. Producers have continued to refine fermentation and drying techniques, combining generations of farming knowledge with new approaches to quality and sustainability.
