The Biocultural Community of Coffee

Veracruz, Mexico

Founded in 2020, Colectivo Rokunin works to showcase the cultural, gastronomic, and biological richness of rural Mexican communities. Through projects, exhibitions, and online platforms such as the Rokunin’s Galleries on Google Arts & Culture, the collective connects art, tradition, and social action.

In 2022, Rokunin expanded its mission to support Indigenous women coffee producers in Veracruz. With strategic partnerships, it created the Mahtlahte Chanchiwame Group (10 Familias) in Cotlaixco, a community in the High Mountains of Zongolica. The group brings together 18 representatives from 10 families, totaling 29 bilingual members (Spanish–Náhuatl) dedicated to sustainable coffee cultivation.

Origins and Background

Featured Projects

  • Las Flores del Cafetal (Flowers of the Coffee Field): An artistic initiative linking coffee producers and consumers, highlighting women’s stories and the biocultural value of coffee.

  • Flor de Izote – Exquisite Mexican Tradition: Explores the culinary importance of this flower from pre-Hispanic times to the present.

  • Better Coffee, Better Life: In collaboration with The Chain Collaborative, this program trains Indigenous families to improve coffee quality and earn fairer prices.

  • Searching for Mexico with Eva Longoria: A CNN Original Series collaboration celebrating Veracruz’s gastronomy and the role of Indigenous women in preserving culinary heritage.

    Colectivo Rokunin continues to seek new partnerships and resources to expand its work with more coffee-growing communities in the region.

Project Overview

The collective’s core initiative focuses on social development and empowerment for Indigenous women coffee producers. Its strategy combines training, resource sharing, and collaboration to strengthen cultural identity, promote sustainable farming, and improve economic opportunities.

Recent Activities:

  • 2022: Coffee-quality and farm-assessment workshops with Bean Voyage.

  • 2023: Náhuatl-language, family-garden, soil-fertility, and drying-technique workshops with The Chain Collaborative, plus distribution of seed kits, solar dryers, sieves, and pulping machines.

  • 2024: Participation in the Women in Coffee Summit and installation of seven 20,000-liter geocisterns for water storage, funded by The Chain Collaborative.

Key Partners

  • Bean Voyage: Training and assessment support for coffee quality (2022).

  • The Chain Collaborative: Partner since 2023; workshops, equipment delivery, and funding for water infrastructure.

  • Google Arts & Culture: Host of Rokunin’s online galleries, giving visibility to cultural and ecological heritage.

  • CNN Original Series (with Eva Longoria): Media collaboration amplifying the voices of Indigenous women producers.

Project Impact

  • Economic Empowerment: Ten Indigenous families have improved coffee quality and market access, achieving better income and livelihoods.

  • Capacity Building: Training in coffee production, fiscal management, and sustainable agriculture for women and their families.

  • Cultural Revitalization: Promotion of Indigenous identity through Náhuatl workshops and community storytelling.

  • Infrastructure & Sustainability: Tools like solar dryers, pulpers, and geocisterns support sustainable practices and climate resilience.

  • Visibility & Connection: Initiatives such as Las Flores del Cafetal and international collaborations connect producers with consumers worldwide.