The Guaymi Indians are Panama's largest group of indigenous peoples.
At one time, they were divided into three distinctive tribes named after their Indian chiefs, the Urraca of Veraguas, the Nata in Cocle Province and the Parita on the Azuero Peninsula. Nowadays, the remaining Guaymis are the Ngobe (Ngabe) people who have intermingled and co-exist with the Bugle tribe. There are about 170,000 Ngobe and less than 20,000 Bugle. They live near Panama's western border, in a "comarca' (reservation) divided into seven districts. The "comarca" covers less than 10 percent of Panama's territory; in the Chiriquí, Bocas del Toro and Veraguas provinces.The "comarca" grants rights and decision powers concerning mining rights, land use, economic development and tourism in the tribe's territory. Noteworthy remark: the tribe designated a 59,000 acre Isla Damani Escudo de Veraguas Wetlands Reserve to protect an important nesting site for hawksbill turtles in an area of mangroves, coral reefs and rain forest. The tribe knows how important sound environmental practices are to their own survival and that of everything around them. Culturally, the Ngobe and Bugle share some customs. However, they speak different languages. Ngobe-Bugle men wear an elaborate beaded neckwear called a "chaquira" that traditionally was a symbol of warriors. Women wear smocks with distinctive appliqued patterns.
During the coffee harvest
season, tribe members leave their small communities and villages to work
as migrant workers in the coffee plantations in the western part of the
country. For this reason, coffee picking time from October to
February is particularly colorful and interesting in Panama's Chiriquí
coffee region, also called "land of the eternal rainbow." Picture this:
thousands of migrants, dressed in their native attire, crossing the
fields picking red coffee berries. The community, during this temporary
work migration, remains very cohesive and tightly organized. The migrant
tribe members maintain a sense of cultural celebration about their
ways, their beautiful clothing, colorful beads, language, songs and
traditions. If anything, exposure to the "outside world" has made the
tribe more proud.
Coffee picking is a task that family members of both genders and various ages can do together. During coffee harvests, when the thousands of expected Indian migrant workers arrive, it is interesting to see how well organized they are. The migrant workers maintain a normal life and preserve their family unit. The men are the primary coffee pickers. The women of the tribe are responsible for the primary care of the children and the dwellings they inhabit. Work is divided among the families so that some of the women can devote time to working their crafts and arts. The "chacara" is a type of woven bag made by the women that displays ancestral legends. They use materials such as fibres from "pita" and "cabuya" plants. The designs are inspired by the jagged shapes and colors typical of the local mountains and forests.
The combination of cash earned from
selling crafts and arts to tourists or commercial exporters plus the
wages from coffee picking are an important source of income for the
tribe. For the coffee growers, the communities in and around the coffee
plantations and the tourists visiting the area, the Indian migrants
provide a unique direct glimpse into a different life style.
Fortunately, it remains vibrant and energized among the indigenous
people who pride themselves in their tribal identity. The migrant
workers also contribute to the local economy in many other ways,
including the profitable growth of eco-tourism and related economic
development.
Picking red coffee cherries by hand is long, tedious work that requires patience and great care. In Panama, the Indians play a significant role in helping maintain the tradition of Gourmet Specialty Coffee that makes Panama coffee a favorite of coffee connoisseurs worldwide. Why does this matter?
At one time, they were divided into three distinctive tribes named after their Indian chiefs, the Urraca of Veraguas, the Nata in Cocle Province and the Parita on the Azuero Peninsula. Nowadays, the remaining Guaymis are the Ngobe (Ngabe) people who have intermingled and co-exist with the Bugle tribe. There are about 170,000 Ngobe and less than 20,000 Bugle. They live near Panama's western border, in a "comarca' (reservation) divided into seven districts. The "comarca" covers less than 10 percent of Panama's territory; in the Chiriquí, Bocas del Toro and Veraguas provinces.The "comarca" grants rights and decision powers concerning mining rights, land use, economic development and tourism in the tribe's territory. Noteworthy remark: the tribe designated a 59,000 acre Isla Damani Escudo de Veraguas Wetlands Reserve to protect an important nesting site for hawksbill turtles in an area of mangroves, coral reefs and rain forest. The tribe knows how important sound environmental practices are to their own survival and that of everything around them. Culturally, the Ngobe and Bugle share some customs. However, they speak different languages. Ngobe-Bugle men wear an elaborate beaded neckwear called a "chaquira" that traditionally was a symbol of warriors. Women wear smocks with distinctive appliqued patterns.
Coffee picking is a task that family members of both genders and various ages can do together. During coffee harvests, when the thousands of expected Indian migrant workers arrive, it is interesting to see how well organized they are. The migrant workers maintain a normal life and preserve their family unit. The men are the primary coffee pickers. The women of the tribe are responsible for the primary care of the children and the dwellings they inhabit. Work is divided among the families so that some of the women can devote time to working their crafts and arts. The "chacara" is a type of woven bag made by the women that displays ancestral legends. They use materials such as fibres from "pita" and "cabuya" plants. The designs are inspired by the jagged shapes and colors typical of the local mountains and forests.
Picking red coffee cherries by hand is long, tedious work that requires patience and great care. In Panama, the Indians play a significant role in helping maintain the tradition of Gourmet Specialty Coffee that makes Panama coffee a favorite of coffee connoisseurs worldwide. Why does this matter?
- The definition of specialty coffee begins at the origin of coffee. It refers to the planting of a specific coffee variety in a particular growing region of the world.
- However, the definition does not stop there. Specialty coffee depends upon the care given to the plant through harvest and preparation for export.
- Coffee cherry picking is an extremely important phase of coffee harvesting.
- The goal is to pick only the red, mature berries and to leave the green berries on the plants until maturation.
- This means careful manual removal of only red cherries from the cluster and continuous passes over time on the same trees.
- The coffee cherry matures an average of 5 to 6 months on the branch.
- The cherry needs to be ripe when hand picked. Green or yellow cherries are not acceptable in gourmet specialty coffee.
- Green cherries can ruin a cup. Yellow to red cherries may not do so but the best cherries for specialty coffee are those that are deep red to crimson.
- Some red cherries, when picked, can be overly ripe. This may give the cup an interesting taste but it can ruin the cup if there are too many overly ripe cherries in the mix.
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "The Gourmet Coffee Guy."
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
Also visit: http://www.squidoo.com/coffee-lensography-TheGourmetCoffeeGuy
© Copyright - Timothy S. Collins. All Rights Reserved Worldwide
He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
Also visit: http://www.squidoo.com/coffee-lensography-TheGourmetCoffeeGuy
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