Las Trojas
Aragua, Venezuela
Las Trojas Producers Association
Nestled high in the cloud-forests of the Henri Pittier National Park, the Las Trojas region is home to a special community of coffee growers who produce organic, mountain-grown coffees under challenging but deeply rewarding conditions. The producers include families working small farms such as the estates of Félix Rojas (Hacienda San Rafael), Edgar (Hacienda La Lagunita), Gustavo Carrillo, Nelson Carrillo and his son (Hacienda El Mirador), Gustave (Campolin), and Ramon Cordero (Las Aguacate), among others.
A protected Paradise.. and a Challenge
The Henri Pittier National Park, the oldest national park in Venezuela, spans over mountainous terrain with lush forest, cloud-forest, and steep slopes. Because this is a protected area, the use of chemical fertilisers or agrochemicals is strictly prohibited, which means coffee cultivation here is inherently organic and benefits from a “virgin soil” largely undisturbed by intensive agriculture.
This status also influences daily life for producers: motorized vehicles are not allowed, so coffee cherries, parchment, bags must often be carried on mules. In some cases, descending to the town (e.g. Turmero) takes about 2.5 hours one way; a round-trip can take a full day. During harvest, many back-and-forths are needed because mule loads are limited, and every journey counts. The remoteness also means that producers must descend roughly every 8 days to buy supplies or provisions, since little is available in the highlands.
These constraints, far from being burdens, also imbue Las Trojas coffee with its character as a tribute to tradition, resilience, and respect for nature.
Coffee Varieties & Production Philosophy
In Las Trojas, the dominant variety cultivated is classic Typica, reflecting the region’s heritage and suitability for this cultivar. Because chemical fertilisers are banned, growers rely solely on the richness of natural soils a commitment to organic, “forest-friendly” coffee.
Producers handle all stages, from cherry to green bean, with care and respect. Many are part of Asocafear, an association born to uplift the value of their harvests, bypass intermediaries, and bring recognition to a truly “specialty & origin” coffee from Henri Pittier.
The coffee farms in Las Trojas are located at altitudes ranging approximately between 1,350 and 1,800 metres above sea level. This high-altitude environment, combined with cool temperatures, misty cloud-forest humidity, and preserved soils, gives coffees from this region a distinctive terroir, ideal for slow cherry maturation and complex flavour development.
Coffee profile
OWNERS: Asociación de Productores de Las Trojas
LOCATION: Las Trojas, Aragua – Venezuela
ALTITUDE: 1350 – 1800 meters
VARIETIES: Typica Criollo, Bourbon
HARVEST: Manual picking
HARVEST PERIOD: November – February
FERTILIZER: 100% organic
