ONA - Community Norte Huila Tatacoa | Colombia - Washed - Castillo, Caturra, Colombia

ONA Coffee is located in Canberra, Australia

From ONA Coffee

A mixed producer lot from the Huila Department of Colombia, this espresso has a citrus note of tangerine that is accompanied by herbal and apple notes as it cools.

In the heart of the Huila department in southwestern Colombia, smallholder farmers unite to create the "Colombia Community Norte Huila Tatacoa" coffee lot. This region, celebrated for its rich tradition of coffee cultivation, offers a diverse topography and fertile volcanic soil, ideal for producing high-quality coffee. Although specific details about individual producers are not available, it's common for these farmers to merge their harvests into community lots. Typically managing small properties of around 1.5 hectares, they focus on meticulous cultivation and processing methods to ensure premium coffee quality. The Monserrate community, for instance, exemplifies such collaborative efforts, collectively processing and marketing their coffees.

This particular lot includes Castillo, Caturra, and Colombia varieties and is brought to market with the assistance of Azahar Coffee. Azahar is a Colombian-based company dedicated to transforming the coffee supply chain by building direct relationships with smallholder farmers. By purchasing green coffee beans at fixed premium prices, often 50% to 70% above local market rates, they ensure fair compensation for farmers. Azahar also offers training and technical assistance, helping farmers enhance bean quality and access specialty markets worldwide. Their commitment to ethical labour practices is evident through initiatives like the “Pickers Project,” which addresses worker exploitation, labour shortages, and coffee quality by employing and training full-time coffee pickers with fair wages and benefits.

The Huila department in Colombia is renowned for its rich history of coffee cultivation, which began in the early 20th century. Nestled within the Andean mountain range and bordered by the Magdalena River, Huila boasts diverse microclimates, high altitudes ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 metres above sea level, and fertile volcanic soil, all of which create ideal conditions for growing high-quality Arabica coffee. The mid-20th century saw significant expansion in coffee production as smallholder farmers embraced coffee as their primary cash crop, supported by favourable conditions and government initiatives.

Huila has since gained recognition for producing some of Colombia’s most complex and flavourful coffees, often noted for their bright acidity, pronounced sweetness, and floral notes. Today, it stands as one of the country's top coffee-producing regions, with over 100,000 coffee-farming families contributing to its reputation as a specialty coffee powerhouse. The region's farmers have embraced sustainable farming practices and innovative processing methods, further solidifying Huila’s status as a leader in Colombian specialty coffee.