The 100%
washed Arabica coffee produced in Colombia needs specific climatic conditions
for its production. Arabica coffee is a product originated in the mountains of
Eastern Africa, and its cultivation demands particular soil requirements,
temperature conditions, atmospheric precipitation and certain altitude over sea
level.
The ideal
conditions for the cultivation of this species in Colombia are found between
the 1.200 (4,000 ft) and 1.800 meters (6,000 ft) above the sea level, with
temperatures between 17 and 23 degrees centigrade (62-75 Fahrenheit) and with
precipitations close to 2.000 millimeters (78 inch) per year, well distributed
along the year. Although these conditions are very frequent, it is also
possible to produce an outstanding coffee at altitudes of up to 2,300 meters
(7,500 ft) or marginally lower than 1,200 m., and with different levels or
frequency of precipitations.
The
specific geographic location of each Colombian coffee growing region determines
its particular conditions of availability of water, temperature, solar
radiation, and wind regime for coffee cultivation. For example, the central
coffee growing regions in the country present dry and rainy periods along
different months, which allow harvesting fresh coffee regularly during the whole
year. In most of the coffee growing regions in the country there is a period of
flowering that goes from January to March, and another one that goes from July
to September. The main harvest in these zones takes place between September and
December, and there is a secondary harvest, denominated "mitaca",
during the second quarter of the year. The main harvest and the mitaca could be
alternated in other regions, in accordance with their latitude (see map).
Aside from
the special conditions of altitude, latitude and climate, Colombian coffee
growing has an essential attribute: the quality of its soil. The soil at coffee
growing regions is characteristic for being in its majority derivative of
volcanic ashes, which endows them with a high content of organic material and
good physical characteristics for coffee production.
With those
available natural elements, the people of coffee in Colombia carry out their
hard work with different nuances, according with the conditions of the
different regional environments. This variety of ecosystems does not only
constitute a biodiversity paradise, but also determines the decisions of
producers on the level of technification of their cultivation and the coffee
varieties to be used. Thus, in Colombia
coffee plantations are developed under different systems of cultivation that
include traditional plantations with lower productivity, on the one side, and
those more advanced and technical, with sun exposure, partially-shaded or those
considered shade grown, on the other side. In any of these systems of
cultivation, Colombian coffee growers only cultivate coffee of the Arabica
species, using varieties that adapt to their specific conditions of production,
including the ones that are known as Típica, Borbón, Caturra, Castillo o Tabi.
In general,
it could be said that Colombia's coffee growing regions are characterized by
the differences between their rain patterns and their harvest cycles, and the
altitude and temperature at which their coffee is produced on the other hand,
in the southern zones of the country, close to the Equator, coffee is produced
at a higher altitude and at temperatures that, not being extreme, are less
elevated. These coffees produced in specific regions such as Nariño or Cauca,
Huila or South of Tolima have different harvesting cycles. They have a higher
acidity and other certain special attributes, on occasions very specific in
terms of aroma, or sweetness, very demanded by sophisticated markets. Those
regions are being developed as regional Denominations of Origin (see DO/IGP)
and are developing specific programs of guarantee of origin.
On the other hand, the coffees produced in the
North of the country, at latitudes above 9° North, face conditions on occasions
similar to the latitudes of the main Central American coffee producers. They are produced at lower latitudes and in
consequence, at higher temperatures. Also, certain regions such as the Sierra
Nevada de Santa Marta, the Perijá Mountains or the Colombian departments of
Casanare, Santander and North of Santander, due to their climatic conditions
and environment they tend to be more exposed to solar radiation and in
consequence the cultivations are frequently protected by different levels of
shade. Those coffees, highly requested by particular markets, have a lower
acidity but a fuller body.
In the
center of the country is where most of the Colombian Coffee harvest is produced. In these zones, known as the
coffee belt (or zona cafetera), certain coffee growing areas of the departments
of Caldas, Quindío and Risaralda, with others located in the North of the
department Valle, conform the Cultural Coffee Landscape. One can find modern
coffee cultivations that coexist with the smallest and more traditional
producers. These zones, as the ones in Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Boyacá and the
North of Tolima have several harvest cycles per year, and produce coffee
basically year round with certain harvest peaks. On occasions, a same coffee
tree gets up to 8 visits in one year in order to harvest its mature beans.
Sophisticated
consumers from the whole world are increasingly aware of the importance of origin
to select their coffee, and are continuously demanding 100% Colombian
coffee Brands. However, some of them also want to know and to see the specific
regions within Colombia where their coffee is produced in order to be able to
fully appreciate the quality attributes of their coffee as well as the specific
programs of Sustainability That Matters developed in those regions. In some
cases consumers and clients are also demanding more sophisticated programs of
guarantee of origin, which are also carried out by the Colombian Coffee Growers
Federation and its Departmental Committees of coffee growers in these regions.
Most Colombian coffee growing areas are located at certain
altitudes in the Colombian departments of Antioquia, Boyacá, Caldas, Cauca,
Cesar, Caquetá, Casanare, Cundinamarca, Guajira, Huila, Magdalena, Meta,
Nariño, Norte de Santander, Quindío, Risaralda, Santander, Tolima and Valle. Growers in these provinces have
created their departmental and municipal coffee committees of producers, which
also belong to their Federation. These committees of coffee producers are in
charge of looking after the interests of coffee growers of each zone. If you
wish to visit the programs and priorities of each Committee please visit the
respective Committee in the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation site.
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