MOTHER TONGUE - Colombia

Colombia, Aponte
Varietal: Caturra
Process: Honey
Altitude: 1,700 - 1,800 masl

This Caturra Honey microlot comes from the Aponte Indigenous Reserve in Nariño, Colombia, a region recognised for its high-altitude terrain and volcanic soil ideal for producing distinctive specialty coffee. Grown at 1,700–1,800 meters and processed using the honey method, the coffee benefits from consistently low humidity and steady temperatures, allowing for slow, controlled drying and a clean, structured profile. The producers are roughly 200 smallholder farmers from Aponte, many of whom are part of an indigenous community with its own language, governance, and cultural identity. Once marginalised and forced into cultivating illicit crops under guerrilla control, this community made a collective decision to transition toward legal, sustainable agriculture replanting coffee and traditional vegetables. This shift has not only improved income stability but has also fostered community resilience, self-determination, and global recognition for their indigenous-led coffee. By marketing their product under their own name, they’ve reclaimed economic agency while preserving their cultural roots.