If not for hindsight, we would be hard-pressed to believe that a Jesuit priest smuggling in a coffee plant in 1723 would bring about a boom of economic development for what is now known as Colombia.
Since then, a whole culture has developed around the bean which is deeply ingrained in our identities. A culture that has, just like all other cultures, evolved over time. These changes have been witnessed by generations of Colombians whose lives are intertwined with the bean from crop to cup.
Today, we represent nearly a fifth of the total US population. We are also the second-largest ethnic group in the country. But the data also shows that Latinos are dispersed rather unevenly across the country – and that our numbers are growing at vastly different rates depending on the state.
When it comes to chemicals, coffee is one of the most heavily treated food crops in the world. According to recent estimates, more than five million tons of pesticides are applied to crops globally, with around 250lbs applied per acre of conventionally grown coffee.
From viral TikTok videos and designer cocktails to desserts and even Beyonce's handbag, Cholula Hot Sauce can be found everywhere. Despite only breaking into the US market 30 years ago, it's the third-most popular hot sauce in the country where it sells more bottles than anywhere else in the world.
From the crack of dawn to late at night, Hondurans heading to and from work are greeted by a now familiar sight: street stalls selling baleadas – a popular meal packed with a favorite Honduran ingredient: beans. In this case, frijoles refritos.
Many of us living in the US are proud Spanglish speakers and see it as a link between two cultures we identify with. It brings English and Spanish together linguistically and, for many of us, this combination also represents the cultural reality of our households.
Olga Cuéllar Gomez dreams of a better world – one in which agricultural communities are treated more fairly and the hard work of producers is truly recognized by all those along the supply chain.
Who remembers a time before reggaetón? A vibrant blend of reggae, dancehall, and Latino music, it has been the world's most popular music genre for more than 20 years - and shows few signs of stopping.
A tradition that is now part of world gastronomy; one which continues to expand as ingredients and cultural layers are added yet retains the character and soul of Peru.
Denisse Coquet speaks to Lea Landaverde about the problem with marketing along stereotypical cultural lines during Hispanic Heritage Month – and every other day of the year.
Whether chomping on vigorón in Granada or riding the waves at Playa El Tránsito, Nicaragua is best experienced by skipping the well-trodden tourist trails and following the lead of the locals.
Like cream rising to the top, El Salvador is slowly ascending to reclaim its spot as one of the top coffee producers in the world, this time with a focus on quality above all else.
Today, there are more than 400 Pollo Campero stores worldwide, with franchises in North America, Africa, and Europe. That makes Pollo Campero the world’s largest Latin American chicken chain. And it's growing: the company recently announced a $190 million investment and plans to expand to 250 restaurants in the US alone over the next four years.
While Latinos may share a language, continent, easy smile and love for good hip-shaking music, putting us in the same box dilutes a rich mestizo culture made up of many unique intricacies, says Denisse Coquet.
The introduction of Mexican cuisine to the US came about in waves: first, in the 1800s when American soldiers stationed in Texas discovered the spicy flavors. Then in the 1900s when the Mexican Revolution drove immigrants across the border.
Like peanut butter and jelly, cafecito and pastries are just better together. Denisse Coquet tracks down the best authentic Latin American bites to go with a good Cuban coffee.
It's not every day that you find a coffee cooperative owned and run by women. Finca Santa María, a coffee cooperative in Aratoca, Colombia, is run by Mildred Muñoz. The key to its prosperity is its completely female farming team's revitalizing effect on gender misconceptions locally and across the coffee industry.
Good friends are an invaluable commodity when size isn't on your side. Often, many small Latin American coffee farmers rely on 'good friends' or cooperative farming to give them a fighting chance.
Mayorga has built an authentic direct trade supply chain over 23 years and millions of dollars invested working directly with our producers and supporting their communities.
Mid-September marks the start of the Hispanic Heritage Month, but at Mayorga, we celebrate our heritage every day, all year round. We show you different ways in which you can honor hispanic heritage.
