Colombian Coffee Region Nariño: Coffee Cultivation, History, and Flavor Characteristics

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Colombian Coffee Production Regions

Colombia's coffee production areas are located at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, where the climate is mild and the air is humid. Colombia has three Cordilleras mountain ranges (sub-mountain systems) running north-south, extending toward the Andes Mountains. Coffee is cultivated along the highlands of these mountain ranges. The mountain terraces provide diverse climates, which means harvesting seasons occur year-round, with different types of coffee maturing at different times. Fortunately, unlike Brazil, Colombia doesn't have to worry about frost damage. Colombia has approximately 2.7 billion coffee trees, of which 66% are cultivated using modern methods in plantations, while the remainder are grown on traditionally managed small farms.

Modern Coffee Production and Quality Control

In the early 1960s, coffee yield was about 600 kilograms per hectare, which has now increased to around 900 kilograms, with individual farms achieving up to 2,500 kilograms. However, ensuring quality remains the primary concern of the coffee industry. In 1927, Colombia established the National Coffee Growers Federation (Federacion Nacional de Cafeteros,简称FNC) to oversee quality control. Although this organization is a private company, it acts on behalf of the government. In addition to organizing the industry, the federation is responsible for setting aside funds during bountiful harvest years. In recent years, as coffee prices have tended to decline, the federation has nearly depleted its financial reserves. The National Coffee Growers Federation also shoulders responsibilities for healthcare, education, road construction, hiring cultivation technicians, conducting surveys, monitoring product quality, directly handling 50% of total export business, and employing marketing personnel. Like Kenya's National Coffee Growers Federation, it serves as a model for coffee organization.

Nariño: Premium Coffee Region

Nariño, located in the western corner of Colombia, is the country's highest-altitude region, where coffee grows on the steep mountain slopes facing the western coast. This area is a primary supplier for Starbucks Coffee, and only premium, top-quality coffee beans from small farms have the opportunity to be exported. The region enjoys the reputation of being the "Holy Grail" of coffee.

The Evolution of Colombian Coffee Excellence

Colombian coffee has long since shed its image as low-quality or base-blend coffee. In recent years, through competitions, people have come to better understand Colombian coffee. Smaller, rounder, and more complete coffee beans are now the mainstream of Colombian coffee, such as those from the Nariño growing region and Oporapa in the Huila province. Coffee produced by large coffee farms is primarily for commercial use, while coffee from small-production, small-cultivation farms lacks earthy flavors and is absolutely balanced and gentle, with a pure, sweet taste and fragrant aroma. This has consistently attracted people's taste buds, bringing infinite pleasant surprises to coffee enthusiasts.

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