caramel, chocolate ganache, raspberry jam, syrupy body Origin: Planadas, San Juan de la China, Anzotêgui, Tolima Region, Colombia Producer: 50 small producers from the Cafisur Cooperative Varietals: Castillo, Caturra Altitude: 2000 masl Processing: washed Sourced through Primavera Green Coffee 50 small scale producers in the region of Tolima came together to make this regional blend happen. The “Friends of Tolima” produce a classic, balanced cup which surprises with some fruity notes and a lot of sweetness and rich, syrupy body. On the cupping table, we couldn’t help but think of the iconic Sacher Torte – a treat known the world over for its richness in chocolate and refreshing layer of raspberry jam under the ganache. Colombia may be the second largest producer of Arabica coffee but the way those 8% are produced stand in contrast to the highly mechanized way Brazil shoulders the world’s demand (they produce roughly 40%). Most of the country’s coffee is grown by small producers scattered in its many coffee growing regions. Due to topographical challenges, producers still work with a lot of manual labor which allows them to apply their human expertise and skillset, resulting in superb quality the country as become known for. These coffee growers in rural Colombia have seen decades of low-intensity political conflict between paramilitary groups, guerrilla groups, and the government, though a peace deal welcomed in 2016 made great strides in the peace and reconciliation process.