Kiss the Hippo,Colombia Huila Grande 250g

In November 2023, our Colombian coffee sourcing expedition took us to the city of Neiva. Following a three-hour journey up the winding hills and occasional treacherous roads, we finally arrived at the quaint town of Santa Rita. There, we were warmly greeted by Milena, the president, and Daniel, the twenty-two-year-old vice president of the Tolima Grande Association.

Over breakfast, Milena and Daniel passionately shared their mission of ensuring local farmers received fair compensation for their coffees. Their journey began in 2019 with 80 dedicated farmers committed to organic and sustainable farming practices. We then embarked on an exploration of some of the members' farms, starting with a visit to Carlos Salazar's farm, La Laurel. Here, Carlos proudly nurtures the land, with the coffee trees blending seamlessly into the natural landscape. Among the varieties grown are Red and Yellow Caturra, alongside Castillo, interwoven with Plantain, Sugar Cane, and Naranjillo fruits.

The following day, we visited to Faro Exporters, where coffee cherry deliveries from Grande Tolima arrived via Chiva buses for processing, sorting, and grading. There, we tasted a variety of coffees from the region, with Grande Tolima emerging as the perfect match for our George St and Mellow and Balanced ranges. Its balanced flavour profile boasts notes of red fruit, sweet chocolate, caramel, and subtle nutty undertones.