The region of Nariño, in the south west of Colombia, has gained substantial notoriety over the past decade in coffee circles. Now considered to be one of the corners of the 'new coffee axis', coffees from this region are some of the most sought after in Colombia thanks to their incredible brightness and complexity. However, this hasn't always been the case. Decades of systemic violence and insecurity undermined the caficultor culture of the region, with a resurgence in coffee only happening relatively recently.

The department of land restitution (Unidad de restitución de tierras), a Colombian government agency, have partnered with our sister company Condor on a social project they are running in Tablón de Gómez, in the far north of Nariño. This region has historically been plagued with violence and insecurity, with FARC and three of its splinter movements as well as multiple drug trafficking groups operating in the area since the 1970s. Over the past 50 years, many smallholder farmers have, either through circumstance or coercion, tended towards growing coca and poppy to supply the drug processing facilities in the area. Many simply abandoned their land for their own safety. This project has been created to help families to transition their farms that have been producing coca and poppy into specialty coffee. Similarly it is incentivising the return of smallholders who had been forced to abandon their lands through threats of violence.

As of today there are 264 families participating in this project and producing coffee. The department offers many avenues of assistance, promoting gender equality, environmental sustainability, social cohesion amongst others, while financially supporting producers in the cultivation, processing and drying of the coffee. By paying premiums well above the market rate, we are able to support the continuation and expansion of this fantastic project.

Origin Type – Cooperation
Farmers – 264
Region – Nariño
Altitude – 1800 masl
Process – Fully Washed
Fermentation – 18-36 hrs
Drying – Tunnel dried