OUR STORY: IRANITA COFFEE, FROM DREAM TO CUP

Vivenda Iranita was born in 1993, when Olympio, Clenair and Ana Regina left the south of Rio de Janeiro for the interior of the state, settling in Purilândia, a district of Porciúncula, in the northwest of Rio de Janeiro - Olympio's hometown. The house was named to pay tribute to Olympio's parents: Irany and Nita (Maria Rita).

Two years later, in 1995, the first coffee plantations began, reviving an old tradition in the region. Initially, grains were sold as a commodity. Olympio managed the site until his death in 2005.

From then on, Ana Regina and her husband Suhail took over management, bringing about a significant change in the way coffee is produced. After technical visits to producers in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, they realized that it was possible to reach a new level of quality. They invested in machinery and post-harvest techniques to achieve what they called "differentiated coffee" - which would later be recognized as Café Especial.

Despite the disbelief of their neighbors - who considered the investments crazy - they remained firm in their purpose: to produce with quality.

Over time, the need arose to reposition the business. This is how the Café Iranita brand was born, as a symbol of the history that was cultivated there.

Produced in sustainable plantations at an altitude of between 400 and 600 meters, Iranita Coffee is the fruit of family farming, cultivated with environmental responsibility. Half of the property is made up of preserved native forest, with special attention paid to the springs and the riparian forest.

It was one of the first coffees in the region to be roasted and ground by hand and sold in various cities in Brazil.

Over the years, varieties more resistant to the local climate, soil preservation techniques and agro-ecological practices have been introduced, earning the property the Gold Seal of Sustainability, awarded by the Rio de Janeiro State Department of Agriculture.

Harvesting, done daily on rags, emphasizes the care taken with the grains: washed, pulped and dried on a stone or suspended patio. The result is a special coffee, full-bodied, smooth and with balanced acidity.

The recognition came in the form of awards and achievements:

• 2016: RJ's Top 100 Gastronomy Seal - ABRESI
• 2017: Sebrae State Business Woman Award - Rural Producer Category
• 2018: 1st place in the Women in Agriculture Award - Bayer, Small Property Category, and Productive River Award - Sebrae
• 2021: Best Espresso Roast Coffee - Rio Coffee Nation
• 2022: 3rd place in the same award
• 2023: Sebrae State Business Woman Award - Rural Producer Category
• 2024: Inspiration Trophy for Coffee Growing in Brazil awarded by Wofse Produções at ExpoCafé

We are members of IWCA Brasil - Women of Coffee, APRORIO - Agroindustries of RJ, ACEAN-RJ and ABIC. Our coffee has the Family Farming Seal (Federal Government), Sou do Rio Seal (FIRJAN), and we are the first micro-brewery in Rio de Janeiro to win the ABIC Specialty Coffee Seal. Also, Café Iranita has been featured at gastronomic events and in the specialized media.

The cultivation area continues to expand with new plantations at the highest points of the property, suitable for growing coffee. Our goal is to grow with quality to meet domestic demand and future exports.

Now covering 74 hectares, Sítio Iranita has a complete structure for producing specialty coffees with a unique sensory profile. The Iranita Torrefaction, which opened in 2022, allows the entire cycle - from plant to cup - to take place on the property.

Our family-run business reaffirms the coffee-growing tradition of the northwest of Rio de Janeiro, a region that was once a national leader in coffee production and today accounts for 80% of the state's output. Porciúncula is one of its main producers.

Among our actions, we highlight the fact that for three consecutive years we have held the Women's Coffee Meeting at Sítio Iranita, in partnership with Sebrae, Senar / Porciúncula Trade Union and other institutions. A moment of exchange with inspiring speakers, like those who have also driven us on our journey.

Since 2024, our region has participated in the construction of the Geographical Indication - Alto Noroeste do Rio de Janeiro and our Collective Brand, a project that recognizes and values our territorial identity, carried out through ACEAN-RJ, which owns the Brand, together with Sebrae and other partners.

We also take part in initiatives such as the Coffee Growing Projects in the region, the Prosperar Program of the Rio de Janeiro State Department of Agriculture, Rio Rural and actions by the Porciúncula Municipal Department of Agriculture.

Our path is made up of history, courage and purpose. And every cup of Café Iranita carries on this legacy.

"Iranita coffee: tradition, flavor and sustainability in the same cup."