Castillo: La Palmera

Our second banger lot from Qima Colombia this year. This coffee showcases how high-quality farming practices and careful processing can create stunning coffee, even with less exotic varieties.

Grown in the sub-region of Acevedo, nestled within the heart of Huila, this Castillo variety benefits from the high altitudes and volcanic soils that Huila is renowned for. Castillo is one of Colombia’s most popular varieties, originally bred to withstand coffee leaf rust and offer farmers a more sustainable growing option. This variety has become favoured for its balanced acidity, smooth body and vibrant flavour profile.

Qima Colombia came into the region in 2020 in order to set up a fresh cherry supply chain managed by an on-the-ground team comprised of local farmers, producers and traders. This team had a vision to demonstrate that equitable and sustainable farming practices do not necessarily translate to expensive coffee and that, while Qima does grow more exotic varieties, its more common coffee can still benefit massively from high-quality farming and processing.

This coffee undergoes a traditional, but carefully managed natural process crafted by Qima. After harvesting at peak ripeness, cherries are sorted and then submerged in water for 48 to 72 hours, allowing a controlled fermentation to develop deep, complex flavours. Following fermentation, the beans are pulped and dried on African beds until they reach ideal humidity. Finally, a precise mechanical drying stage ensures a stable humidity of 10-11%, preserving the coffee’s unique characteristics and depth of flavour.

Traceability: Smallholder farmers of Acevado < Huila < Colombia

Process: Natural

Varietal: Castillo

Tasting Notes: Blackcurrant, Pineapple, Cherry Liqueur