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Lenca

Honduras - La Paz - Marcala - LENCA - Bio - by Sail

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SCA score82.5

Aromatic notes

citrus fruitdark chocolatehazelnutvegetalmalt

Available on sample request (69kg)

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History and traceability

The story

Our LENCA coffee is produced by the COMSA cooperative (Cafe Organico Marcala SA). It is a varietal blend, made up of catuai, caturra, tipica, bourbon, pacas and IHCAFE 90.

COMSA's approach is based on sustainability. The cooperative supports producers who want to set up organic farming, to make the transition from conventional farming to more environmentally friendly farming.

The producers who make up COMSA regularly receive courses in coffee tasting and farming. The cooperative also subsidises the education of children in the community in order to support future generations.

The word "Lenca" is an adjective that refers to a person from an Amerindian people who inhabited southern, central, and western Honduras and the border area of El Salvador.

The Lencas are one of the great Honduran ethnic groups, descendants of the Mayans and are currently the largest group in Honduras and are located in the departments of La Paz, Intibucá and Lempira.

It’s 2001. Coffee prices have crashed. Farms are abandoned for lack of resources, and fertilizers have become too expensive. Without chemical treatments, nature slowly takes over: trees start growing back, and shade returns to the land.

It’s in this environment that COMSA – Café Orgánico Marcala S.A. – is born. A group of organic-certified coffee farmers, led by the third generation of growers, came together with just $600 in hand. Quickly backed by FUNDER, the organization put people at the heart of its mission.

The beginnings were humble, but the goal was clear: give farmers the tools to truly understand their soil, their coffee, and their choices.

Today, more than 1,200 producers work together, committed to defending and spreading the values of the organization. Regular workshops are held, covering topics like coffee tasting and how to transition to organic farming practices.

One of the big turning points? The introduction of detailed reports for every plot: volumes, margins, investments. Concrete numbers that made a real impact. As farmers started to understand their operations better, they invested in micro-washing stations, post-harvest equipment... Quality became a driver for change.

Fairtrade certification played a key role. Thanks to the Fairtrade premium, farmers received up to $1,500 in annual bonuses, and most importantly, they were able to invest collectively in projects like:

Setting up a Montessori-inspired school, open to all children, with or without disabilities
Funding scholarships to study abroad
Establishing a local banking system
Modernizing the coffee processing plant

COMSA dedicates 25% of its income to education. Scholarships are offered not only to the children of COMSA members, but also to children from the wider community. Every year, kids receive English lessons through the cooperative’s initiatives.

Back then, many thought they were crazy. Today, their bet has become a model.

The education of producers has been holistic — from their farming practices to their daily diets. For example, sugar consumption was (and still is) a real problem. Even though the region produces tons of fruit, families often preferred to drink Coca-Cola. COMSA started hosting talks to raise awareness about the dangers of excessive sugar intake.

But COMSA’s impact goes far beyond coffee.

Faced with the overwhelming problem of plastic waste, COMSA decided to act. They created a local recycling plant, where residents can bring plastic waste to be collected and sold. The plastic is then recycled into construction materials, like furniture.

It’s an initiative that’s both environmental and social — giving new value to waste, creating local jobs, and strengthening the community’s commitment to protecting the environment.

Identity card

OriginHonduras
RegionLa Paz
TerroirMarcala
SpeciesArabica
VarietiesBlend
ProcessWashed

DryingMechanical dryer
Packaging69kg - Jute bags
Altitude1200 - 1700 m
Harvest periodDecember – March
Type of harvestHand-picked

The impact of this coffee

Shipped by sail

≃80%
less carbon in sea freight

Fresh coffee, clean ocean

Combining well-sourced coffee with carbon-neutral sea freight is the future of coffee. Sailing cargo reduces pollution, protects marine life, runs on 100% renewable energy and lowers your coffee’s carbon footprint.

FCCO by Sail is Belco’s sailing cargo programme.

Agroforestry level

Complex
More than 5 species per hectare and at least 2 shade layers

Agroforestry brings trees and crops together on the same plot. Its benefits range from shade and more fertile soil to better-ripened cherries.

Quality

Aromatic notes

citrus fruitdark chocolatehazelnutvegetalmalt

SCA scoreMeets Belco quality standards

82.5

Request a sample Ask about our quality process

By origin

By process

By SCA score

Impact & projects

Availability

By origin

Selections

Cacao lots

Lenca

History and traceability

Identity card

The impact of this coffee

Shipped by sail

≃80%
less carbon in sea freight

Fresh coffee, clean ocean

Agroforestry level

Complex
More than 5 species per hectare and at least 2 shade layers

Quality

Aromatic notes

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History and traceability

Identity card

The impact of this coffee

Shipped by sail

≃80%less carbon in sea freight

Fresh coffee, clean ocean

Agroforestry level

ComplexMore than 5 species per hectare and at least 2 shade layers

Quality

Aromatic notes

You may also like

Marcala

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Alegría

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≃80%
less carbon in sea freight

Complex
More than 5 species per hectare and at least 2 shade layers