Our Indii lot comes from the Montaña Alta region in the state of Guerrero—a remote and often forgotten area, mostly inhabited by the indigenous Me’phaa people. Despite covering just 0.35% of Mexico’s territory, this mountainous corner is home to a vibrant community of producers who care for biodiverse landscapes and cultivate exceptional coffee.

The farms in Montaña Alta resemble small jungles, typically under one hectare, where coffee grows under the shade of timber and fruit trees. These agroforestry systems provide crucial environmental services, protect against climate change, and conserve biodiversity. Guerrero is also unique in that nearly 90% of its coffee is produced as natural process coffee, unlike most other Mexican states where washed coffee predominates.

Before Ensambles became involved, coffee sales in the region were monopolized, resulting in low income for growers. Since 2017, Ensambles, through the Bios Terra Institute, has worked hand in hand with producers—training them in sustainable agricultural practices, helping them improve quality, providing mobile lab evaluations, and opening access to both national and international markets.

Indii means tiger or jaguar in the Me’phaa language. This powerful feline roams Guerrero’s mountains and holds deep cultural, spiritual, and ecological meaning. It symbolizes fertility, rain, strength, authority, victory in battle, and the mystical bond between nature and humanity.

However, the Montaña Alta faces deep-rooted challenges. It’s one of the most marginalized and impoverished areas in Mexico, plagued by limited economic opportunity and widespread migration. Drug trafficking has taken hold of many vulnerable areas, reinforcing negative stereotypes and deterring investment. Few coffee companies are willing to build transparent, long-term relationships with growers here—leaving room for oligopolies to exploit producers with unfair prices and indifference to quality. The region remains especially unsafe for women.

Yet amid these challenges, Ensambles continues to connect with La Montaña, investing in people, landscapes, and the coffee that tells a story of resilience, tradition, and transformation.