Colombia Tolima Organic

We’ve been sourcing coffee out of Colombia’s Tolima region for several years and are always impressed by the amazing quality coming out of the small co-operatives around Planadas. This specific lot comes from 50 smallholder producers working with the fabi co-op in the eastern reaches of Tolima.

Historically this remote area was once heavily infiltrated by FARC rebels, their presence contributing to the region’s isolation and giving the area a reputation of being unsafe and violent. Now with established peace talks and production shifting from coca to coffee, producers in the region have access to a more reliable and safe source of income.

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.

Our speciality coffees are 100% traceable and ethically sourced. We work direct with farmers, or through trusted partners, to bring you the best coffee from around the world.

Sourced in partnership with: Mercanta
Producer relationship length: Since 2011