Region: North America Roast: Medium Cupping Notes: Almond, Dark Chocolate, Lemon Our Mexican Chiapas is one of the finest Mexican coffees available. Nice body in the cup and low on acid. It is a Fair Trade coffee, so brew a cup and enjoy... Forested Chiapas is the site of some of the region’s most spectacular Mayan ruins—at Bonampak, where intricate murals are preserved, and at Palenque, which is located in a national park. Chiapas ranks second among the Mexican states in the production of cacao, the product used to make chocolate, and is responsible for 60 percent of Mexico’s total coffee output. Other significant crops are sugar cane, bananas and other fruits. Annual milk production in Chiapas totals about 180 million liters (47.5 million gallons). History Early History Chiapa de Corzo, a Mayan settlement in the center of Chiapas, shows evidence of human occupation since 1400 B.C., though little is known about the inhabitants of that area. Around 600 A.D., the Mayan city of Palenque was established and the first large structures were begun. However, much of the early history of the city–like that of the state–remains a mystery to archaeologists. Did you know? Emiliano Zapata, a leading figure in the 1910 Mexican Revolution, was born in Morelos, Chiapas. Zapata has become a cultural icon whose exploits have appeared in comic books, historical and fictional literature, music and movies. In 1952, his contributions to Mexican history were captured in the American-made film, Viva Zapata, which featured Marlon Brando in the leading role. Chiapas represents a small portion of the region once inhabited by the Mayan Indians. For at least 2,000 years, the Mayan culture flourished throughout Mesoamerica. Skilled weavers and temple builders, they left behind a wealth of archaeological treasures for later generations to discover and admire. The Mayans who originally occupied the region were later conquered by the Chiapa Indians. Evidence suggests that the Aztecs appeared in the area during the 15th century, although they were unable to completely displace the Chiapa tribe. In Náhuatl, the language of the Aztecs, Chiapas means the place where the chia sage grows. Middle History In 1522, after conquering the Aztec Empire, Hernán Cortés sent tax collectors to the area that is now Chiapas. Soon after, Cortés dispatched his emissary, Luis Marín, to the region to subdue the indigenous Tzotzile Indians. Marín was fiercely opposed in the highlands, and reinforcements were dispatched to help control the natives, many of whom chose suicide over being conquered. Although formal combat ended in 1528, the natives continued to resist Spanish rule into the 17th century. While many Mexican states flourished during the Spanish colonial period–in large part because of their natural resources–resource-poor Chiapas languished in poverty and discontent. The melding of Indian and Spanish blood that produced the mestizo population was less pronounced in Chiapas than elsewhere in the country. Consequently, the identity of the Chiapas Indians was better preserved than that of neighboring cultures. Even today, many of Chiapas’ ethnic groups have maintained their ancient cultures, traditions and customs. Recent History Under the leadership of Catholic priest Matías Antonio de Córdoba, Chiapas declared independence from Spain in 1821; in 1824, the state joined the Mexican alliance. Chiapas’ constitution was drafted in 1826, and the state was fully incorporated into Mexico in 1841. Conflicts between colonial landowners and the indigenous people continued throughout the 19th century. However, the Mexican Revolution, which started in 1910, left Chiapas largely untouched. In the years following the revolution, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) quickly became a dominant political force. By aligning themselves with PRI leaders, Chiapas’s privileged landowners blocked land reforms designed to benefit the large indigenous population. As a result, Chiapas remained