UNSpecial N° 689 • Novembre 2009
Colombian coffee –
A love story
Coffee was first introduced to Colombia in the early 1800s. The cultivation of coffee for trade purposes began around 1835 in Salazar de las Palmas, Norte de Santander. Throughout the 20th century, coffee was the main export from Colombia. In 1999, coffee represented 3.7% of the national income. The Protected Designation of Origin regions of coffee production in Colombia are: Antioquia, Caldas, Cundinamarca, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Quindío, Risaralda, Tolima and Valle del Cauca.
The Colombian Cordillera near Quindio is world-famous for its richly flavoured coffee. The region comprised of Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío is known as the Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis, because of the many high-quality cultivated crops grown here.
Nearly 75% of the production is exported. The international market for coffee is regulated by the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia. Today Colombia accounts for about 12% of the coffee market in the world.
Colombian coffee, also known as Colombian Mild, is characterized by its soft terroir. Only crops of Coffea arabica of Maragogype, Caturra, Typica and Bourbon cultivars, among others, are grown. When Colombian coffee is freshly roasted it has a bright acidity, is heavy in body and is intensely aromatic.
