Colombia China Alta Ibague Tolima Community Lot – Single Origin Espresso Roast

Colombia China Alta Ibague Tolima Community Lot

Body: Full
Acidity: High
Process: Washed
Dose: 21.7g
Extraction: 25-28 second
Farm: Washed China Alta Ibague Tolima Community Lot
Altitude: 1,800 – 2,000
Town/City: China Alta
Region: Ibagué, Tolima

Tasting Notes:  Bright and floral with a syrupy mouthfeel. Nectarine, strawberry jam, and black tea on the finish.

Background Information: This coffee was grown and processed by seven smallholder producers that are situated around the village of China Alta, a small community located in the municipality of Ibagué, in the state of Tolima, Colombia.

The farms that contributed to this lot are very small – on average just 3 hectares in size – and are located between 1800-2000m above sea level, in the steep, rugged hills that surround Tolima’s capital city, Ibagué.  The region of China Alta is named for the Rio La China, a small and beautiful river that curves through the mountains and eventually feeds into Rio Magdelena, Colombia’s principal river.  Coffee farms sit alongside Rio La China, and the water is used to irrigate and process the coffee.  Alta refers to the higher elevation areas of this area, where the sweetest and most refined coffees are grown and harvested.

Historically the area of China Alta has been known for cattle, sugarcane, and trout, which are still farmed in pools along the river.  Coffee is a relatively new crop for the region, having only been planted in the last 30-40 years.  Most coffee farmers purchased land in the area because it was more affordable than traditional coffee farming areas like Planadas and Chaparral, in Tolima’s south.  Higher elevation areas were considered less prosperous than lower areas because they typically achieve lower yields.  However, this region has since gained acclaim for the high cup quality, sweetness and complexity of the coffees produced here.

Coffee in China Alta is farmed with traditional techniques. Fertilisation occurs around three times a year, usually after manual weeding, and pesticides are rarely used.  The coffee is selectively hand-harvested to achieve its high quality in the cup.

N.B. Our Single Origin Espresso roasts are roasted for black based coffees.