La Cristalina
COLOMBIA
producers: local smallholders
region: Huila
elevation: 1650 – 1880 m.a.s.l
species and varietal: arabica, Castillo, Colombia & Caturra
processing method: natural
fermentation: spontaneous
“La Cristalina” is a local producer group made up of 50 family farms from the villages of Libano, Sinai, Galilea, and El Silencio, all within the greater municipality of Palestina, one of Huila’s southernmost cities. Combined, La Cristalina farmers grow coffee on 200 hectares of land. But the labour required during harvest is almost entirely still done by the families themselves—only 70 total pickers are hired each season to help with the group’s cherry collection. The varietals included in this lot are considered traditional in the area, inherited from prior generations; however, many growers are planting more niche cultivars with increasing popularity, such as Tabi, Borbón Rosado (Pink Bourbon), and Gesha.