Fazenda California | Mundo Novo Honeymoon

orange jam, hazelnut, caramel

Back in the early 2000s, this now beautiful farm was in bad shape—dead roots, compacted soil, no organic matter, and erosion. Originally a coffee research center for the University of California, it later became a sugarcane farm, which heavily degraded the land and led to financial collapse. In 2004, Dr. Paulo Cesar Saldanha Rodrigues and his nephew Luiz took over, determined to prove that farming could regenerate the land. Sadly, a tragic plane crash took Paulo’s life, but Luiz continued the dream with his wife, Flávia. Since then, they have fully renewed their coffee plants, upgraded processing facilities, and set up a sustainable management system. Now, as Q-Graders, Luiz and Flávia produce world-class coffee while inspiring the next generation, proving that farming can heal both the land and the people.

The coffee cherries go through anaerobic fermentation to create lactic fermentation, making the taste extra smooth. Then, they’re inoculated with a starter culture in an airtight space to add more body and complexity. Lastly, they’re dried naturally on raised beds to lock in deep, rich flavors.