Old Mother Nightshade
The Fable of the Shape-Shifting Woman in the Woods
So the fable goes, the areas in the Lincolnshire fens were once so isolated everyone knew each other as well as family. All except for an old fen woman who was the continuous subject of gossips and rumors. She lived on the very edge of the fens, away from all but the wild animals and deep dark woods.
People passing across the fens late in the evening could hear strange howling coming from her cottage. Thus, she was labelled a witch, to be avoided by all and given the name ‘Old Mother Nightshade’.
Everyone was afraid of her except a foolish boy by the name of John Culpepper. He was madly in love with a lady far beyond his reach, named Rose Taylor, who enjoyed the attention, but it was all a ruse. Soon, his love unrequited, turned his heart sour and he sought after the witch’s help in revenge.
He was welcomed by the old woman and, having shared his woes, presented with a box of sweetmeats to give to Rose and told to return by the night of full moon to give a report.
He did all that was asked, returning to the cottage on the brightly moon lit night. As soon as the door closed behind him, he was bound to a chair and told to close his eyes. He dared to take a peek and as he did so, the old woman revealed her true self, a fearsome giant grey wolf.
There were reports of blood curdling cries across the fens that night. So, at first light, the men folk went to see what had happened but could find only bones and wolf paw prints.
John Culpepper and the old woman were never seen again.
Coffee Lot Details
This blend comes from smallholder producers farming the high-altitude slopes around Jaén, in Peru’s northern Cajamarca region. The combination of volcanic soils, tropical rainfall, and cool mountain air gives the land incredible potential for specialty coffee. Yet without the right knowledge and infrastructure, quality can often be lost during harvest and processing.
Producers here typically pulp cherries by hand, ferment them in small tanks, and dry them on patios or raised beds before delivering parchment to Falcon’s warehouse in Jaén. There, every lot is graded, moisture-tested, roasted, and cupped to assess quality. Farmers receive immediate feedback, a cup score, and a fair offer price on delivery.
Since 2018, Falcon Peru SARL has operated a warehouse and QC lab in Jaén, giving local farmers direct access to support, training, and better market opportunities. Purpose-built drying facilities now help stabilise moisture and preserve cup character, while the Blueprint Project ensures full transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain.
In 2022, Peru also became the first origin in Falcon’s Carbon Project, a long-term initiative researching farm-level emissions and sustainable practices. Together, these steps are helping unlock Peru’s true potential: coffees that are not only high in quality, but farmed with care for people, land, and future.
Tasting notes
Elevation
1300-1400 masl
Varietal
Red Bourbon
Process
Washed
