El Indio
Planadas is a municipality located in Tolima, the third largest coffee-producing region in Colombia. Coffee in Tolima is mainly grown by smallholder producers including indigenous and Afro-descendant groups, most of them using organic techniques. This coffee is produced by 175 co-operative members in the El Indio program, under the care of ASOPEP, an association of growers in Planadas dedicated to quality and sustainability. The association aims to equip producers with environmentally-friendly techniques, and also cupping knowledge so that they are able to assess their own coffees.
Natural-processed lot
This coffee is a natural-processed lot, while most growers in Tolima process their coffee using washed processing techniques. The coffee cherries are carefully hand-picked, choosing only the ripest.
The coffees are sent to the ASOPEP communal drying station, where they undergo hand sorting to remove any defects, and are then sundried on raised beds under temperature-controlled conditions.
About this coffee
Cupping score: 87.50
Farm: El Indio
Producer: smallholders
Region: Tolima
Altitude: 1500 – 2000 MASL
Variety: Caturra
Processing: natural
Variety
Caturra – Vigorous and highly productive tall variety with very good cup quality. Found commonly in Rwanda and Burundi.
Natural process
Natural sundried, also called “natural process” or “dry process,” means drying coffee cherries whole without the intervention of water or machines to remove any of the fruit. Prior to drying, the cherries are picked, floated in water, and sorted to remove any under-ripe or overripe fruit.
