We start with tasks on the boat. Louis will carry the rudder of the windvane to the store since it was broken in March. So we will probably leave as soon as we receive it. Marie-Andrée comes to join us to participate in the tasks, she washes the deck and the cockpit of the boat.
We then go to Finca la Laja, a plantation of coffee, banana trees, oranges, and other tropical fruits as well as vines and a cellar. It is a plantation that produces mainly for the needs of the owners and their restaurant. They also sell wines, coffee and other products in their shop.
To make you enjoy a little of our tour:
Imagine arriving in this place for a visit of about an hour (30 minutes of visit and 30 min of tasting) in a heat of 42 degrees in the shade. We are offered a tour in French in 10 minutes, but since we haven't had lunch yet and it's 2 p.m., we choose the one in English. If I don't understand everything, I'll ask Louis.
Before starting the visit, they offer us water in a jug: well water with lots of minerals (especially iron) and gases from volcanic rocks; there used to be a natural spa, very good against psoriasis. The three of us look at each other and wonder if we're drinking it. We've all been told time and time again not to drink water from another country unless it's bottled. So water from a jug… but we try, telling ourselves that at worst, we will go to the bathroom and anyway, if they are still using it, it must be okay. The taste is strong in minerals, I wouldn't drink this every day, they don't drink it either, but so much the better if it helps or if it has helped people and mainly, at least we tried. For your information, we were not sick either.
We then leave for the visit.
For coffee production, it must be at least 18 degrees. If it is less at night, the leaves burn a little. It has to be in the shade. So they put the plants under the vines to protect them from the sun. You should see how well organized everything is to make the most of the available space.
A fruit contains 2 coffee beans. They put the fruits to dry naturally with the sun for about twenty days, but with the heat of the last few days it is about ten days. Then they roast hem for ten minutes. They don't caramalise them. Torefaction means putting sugar on the beans so that the burning sugar gives them a darker color. It is prohibited in most countries of the European Union, because as you know, a burnt food can give cancer.
For 7 kilos of fruit, they obtain 1 kilo of coffee, following the removal of the bark, and the drying of the beans.
Their coffee is sweet. It is produced at 200-300m above water level, stronger and more acidic coffees are usually made at over 1000m (ex: Colombia) About 1% caffeine compared to 3-4% for the most acidic. Let's say their coffee compares to arrabiata (their word, not mine).
It was the only coffee plantation in Europe but there is now another in the south of the island.
They also have red bananas which are less sweet, mini Canarian bananas which are sweeter than common bananas and common bananas of course.
The plantation is in a valley since it is a micro climate, necessary for the production of all these tropical fruits (mangoes, oranges, bananas, avocado) and vines.
They store their wines under a huge rock, which fell hundreds of years ago, at a natural temperature of 18 degrees. These are young wines (6-8 months). They sell about 30,000 bottles a year: white, rosé, red, which we were able to taste later and 2 others which were out of stock, including one for dessert.
The family business is in its 4th, soon to be 5th generation. Initially, they worked for the company and they often prayed to the virgin of the pines in front of a 400-year-old pine, surely the oldest on the islands. They promised to build a chapel when they became owners and that's what they did. There is now a chapel on the 12-hectare property, near the famous pine.
For the tasting, we taste the 3 wines, as well as cheese, a small coffee/apple jelly, and a mixture of sausage on bread.
I felt drops of water running down my thighs. Really cold temperature! I drink my coffee and sweat through my fingers. For those who know me, I'm more often cold than hot so I'm not at all in my element. But great visit!
We forget about the other visit of banana trees that we wanted to do since we have already had some information on bananas and we are really hot. Head to the hotel pool. With refreshments and entrees.
We meet Quebecers and French women. Always pleasant to hear our language in a foreign country.
We finish our day at a restaurant on the edge of the water, on the other side of the island. A good paella. Really a nice day!
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