Mexico, San Mateo Yoloxochitlan

The San Mateo Yoloxochitlán working group brings together some of the most dedicated coffee growers from the La Cañada region of Oaxaca, Mexico. While the group began informally around 2019–2020, it officially partnered with Terra Coffea Mexico (TCM) in 2022. Through this partnership, TCM helps by offering hands-on support with post-harvest processing, giving direct feedback on coffee lots, and connecting farmers with international buyers.

 

Balancing fair business practices with the values of equity and community can be challenging, especially in cultures that emphasize equality. But so far, any extra income (premiums) earned from selling the coffee has been reinvested into the group—helping give members more freedom and better opportunities each year.

 

Yoloxochitlán is located high in the mountains of Oaxaca’s La Cañada region. Its name comes from a Zapotec phrase that means “flower of the heart,” reflecting just how special and unlike any other place in Mexico this area is. La Cañada stands out in every way—its culture, language, landscape, food, and, of course, its coffee. The rugged terrain has helped preserve traditional ways of life that have disappeared elsewhere.

 

Today, most people in this area are Mazatec, an Indigenous group with deep roots that go back even before the Aztec empire. The Mazatec are known throughout Mexico for their important roles in major social movements, including the War of Independence and the Revolution of 1910. Globally, the region became famous through spiritual leaders like María Sabina, who inspired visitors from around the world—including musicians like Jim Morrison and members of the Beatles.