Top Guatemala Official Talks Trade at Coffee Event

Guatemalan Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Julio Orozco promoted his country’s coffee beans at a coffee tasting event in Taipei, stating that a closer commercial bond between the two allies would help enhance diplomatic ties. Orozco said that coffee is the second-most requested Guatemalan product by Taiwanese after sugar, and that demand would continue to grow. The country has eight coffee growing regions, with coffee being cultivated with care and benefiting from 37 impressive volcanoes, a privileged climate, and more than 360 microclimates that contribute to its uniqueness and high quality. In Taiwan, Guatemalan coffee from Huehuetenango and Antigua are the most highly valued, and Orozco hoped that the tasting event featuring 25 varieties of the best Guatemalan coffee beans would help Taiwanese explore other options. The event was co-organized by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government-funded Central America Trade Office, the Guatemalan embassy in Taiwan, the Guatemalan National Coffee Association, and the Taiwan Coffee Association. Taiwanese consume 2.85 billion cups of coffee annually, which means an average of 122 cups a year per person. Importing Guatemalan coffee is important for Taiwan’s diplomatic ally as China last month banned imports of coffee and macadamia nuts from the Central American country without explanation.

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