Colombia Huila Honey Process - Red Bourbon

Nice acidity, peach, nectarine, yellow plum, strawberry lemonade
TOP LOT
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Bag Weight 70 KG BAG
Harvest Season 2023/24
Status Spot
Lot Number P612828-5
  • 19 Bag(s)
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About This Coffee

Red Bourbon is a classic for a reason. Widely cultivated in Latin America and beyond, when grown with care at high altitudes it is capable of achieving the prized balance of complex sweetness and acidity that distinguishes specialty coffee from more generic offerings. 

This honey-processed lot features contributions from 15 smallholder farmers in Huila, located in Pitalito, Palestina, Acevedo, and Guadalupe. With honey-processed coffees, after cherries are harvested they are partially depulped and left to dry with some of the coffee's mucilage (fruit) intact. This departure from traditional washed processing offers some of the enhanced fruitiness and sweetness of natural processed coffees, with less risk of over-fermentation and/or funky profiles. 

Country of Origin Colombia
Region Huila
Producer Type Small Holder Farmers
Farm Name 15 producers
Processing Honey Processed
Growing Altitude 1600m - 1900m
Harvest Season 2023/24
Bag Weight 70 KG BAG
Bag Type Grain Pro / Ecotact
Plant Species Arabica
Variety Red Bourbon

History of Colombian Coffee 

As with many coffee origins, it is believed that coffee was first brought to Colombia by priests, arriving, perhaps, within a decade or two after coffee first came to the Americas via the Caribbean in the first half of the 17th century. It was likely a garden crop grown for local consumption and barter for decades. Unlike other coffee regions, we have the story of a priest named Francisco Romero, who could be called the father of commercial coffee cultivation in Colombia. The folkloric tale goes that in the early 1800’s, Father Francisco, hearing confessions in the north eastern town of Salazar de la Palmas, assigned planting coffee to his parishioners as penance for their sins. The Archbishop of Colombia heard about this and ordered all priests to adopt the practice. Commercial production of coffee expanded quickly, moving into regions where the growing conditions were ideal. 

Growing Coffee in Colombia 

Even though it’s been 4,000 years, the soil resulting from the last major eruption of Tolima is still considered “young soil,” filled with nutrients that are no longer found at the same levels in old soil. There is a long list of elements on offer in volcanic soil that are fading or absent in other soils, such as high levels of potassium and nitrogen. Also present is something called “Boron,” which arrived from outer space a long time ago, and is important to cell walls, the creation of enzymes, and the production of flowers and fruit, meaning Boron contributes to yield. Beyond the nutrients, the structure of volcanic soil is also beneficial to coffee growing. It can soak up and hold moisture while, at the same time, facilitate good drainage so water doesn’t pool, which is not good for coffee plant roots. Coffee plants like to take a drink, then take a break. Also, volcanic soils are usually found on an incline, which also helps with drainage. 

  • Region Huila
  • Farm Name 15 producers
  • Producer Type Small Holder Farmers
  • Processing Honey Processed
  • Bag Type Grain Pro / Ecotact
  • Plant Species Arabica
  • Variety Red Bourbon
  • Min Growing Altitude 1600m
  • Max Growing Altitude 1900m
  • On Sale No
  • Top Lot Yes
  • Status Spot
  • Coffee Grade COL CA WA EXCO EP10
  • CTRM Contract Number P612828-5
  • Ctrm Region Huila
  • Country of Origin Colombia
  • Warehouse The Annex CA