Colombia Pink Panther

Pink Bourbon has become a staple of Colombia in recent years, standing out for its consistently sweet profile. This sweetness is reminiscent of what Colombians know as 'Melao,' a syrup made from melted panela and water, used to sweeten desserts. In this way, Pink Bourbon is like a dessert in a cup, full of sweetness and character.

This variety is widely spread in the southern part of the department of Huila and is now making its way north and into other departments. According to producers, Pink Bourbon originated on a farm in the “vereda” of San Adolfo in the municipality of Acevedo, Huila. There, the plant began to exhibit unique traits, such as its famous pinkish hue with stripes when ripe. When cupped, it revealed a distinctive, unique, and consistent profile, which led to its growing popularity. From the original farm, seedlings were sold to other producers and, in some cases, gifted to friends.

Many coffee producers in Huila have planted Pink Bourbon over the past 10 years, as it consistently produces high-quality cups. It has adapted well to climatic changes and has not been significantly affected by pests and diseases such as leaf rust, maintaining a good production yield.

Several DNA studies have shown that Pink Bourbon is closely related to an Ethiopian landrace, though the exact details remain unspecified. The name "Pink Bourbon" became popular because early producers thought the tree resembled a Bourbon variety and noted its distinct pink hue. The name stuck and is now widely recognized.

The coffee producers of the south of Huila are mostly second-generation, with some third generation and a few first-generation farmers. Coffee is both a passion and a business for them, which is why they continually seek to improve the quality of their coffee to achieve better prices. Many of these producers have experimented with different fermentation times, vessels in which the coffee is fermented, and other techniques. They also introduce new varieties to consistently achieve better results and ensure quality. This is why they have decided to introduce Pink Bourbon to their farms.

Colombia’s reputation as a specialty coffee-producing powerhouse is well known and well deserved. Overall the world’s third largest coffee exporting country, Colombia tops the charts when it comes to arabica, with over 11 million bags produced every year.

First cultivated in the country in the 18th century, coffee production began in earnest in 1808 and has played an important part in the country’s economy ever since. Most coffee in Colombia is grown by small farmers—60 percent of producers cultivate less than one hectare of coffee, while less than one percent have more than 20 hectares.

Colombia's mountainous terrain and diverse microclimates makes it an ideal place for coffee to thrive, and also allows for distinct variations in taste profile depending on the region, farm, and sometimes even plots of specific farms.

More than half a million families grow coffee in the country, most on farms of two hectares or less. The Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (FNC), created in 1927, oversees the industry on a national level, with cooperatives and smaller farmer's unions operating regionally.

The FNC was created to defend the interests of its owners, the small-scale farmers who produce the bulk of the country's coffee, as well as to promote the production and exportation of Colombian coffee more generally.

Castillo, named for the researcher Jamie Castillo who helped develop the variety in 2005, is resistant to leaf rust and has quickly become the most planted coffee in Colombia. Coffee leaf rust (la roya in Spanish) has impacted coffee growing in Colombia, among many other countries, and remains a looming threat as the planet heats.

Did you know?

• The FNC is well known for its classic Juan Valdez marketing campaign, wherein an actor portraying a coffee farmer (alongside his mule, Conchita) extols the virtues of Colombian coffee. It has spawned many offshoots and parodies, as well as an international chain of cafes.
• The Coffee Triangle, comprising four departments including the northern part of Tolima, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.
• Parque del Café (Coffee Park) is a theme park devoted to coffee located in the department of Quindío. Owned by the FNC, it features a museum and exhibitions as well as an amusement park and animatronic show.

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