History of coffee in Colombia
In a previous article, we looked at thehistory of coffee in general, including the race to acclimatize it in the various colonies. Today, NOROHY takes a closer look at the history of Colombian coffee. NOROHY has extended its range with an organic liquid coffee extract concentrate.
The beginnings of Colombian coffee
Where and how coffee arrived in Colombia remains controversial. Some claim that coffee trees were introduced via Venezuela. The Spanish Jesuit José Gumilla is said to have originated the plant during his mission between 1724 and 1736. His account, published in “El Orinoco Illustrado”, bears witness to this.
Others claim that coffee was introduced to Colombia via Central America.
However, the collective unconscious attributes the paternity of coffee in Colombia to Francisco Romero, priest of Salazar de las Palmas. He is said to have given his parishioners the penance of planting coffee trees before 1830.
From boom to war
By 1870, cultivation had spread from Santander province to Cundinamarca and Tolima. Colonization intensified production until 1890, to the detriment of cocoa and cotton. However, the civil wars of the Regeneración devastated the producing regions. Inflation wiped out the government subsidies introduced to preserve the industry. By 1910, coffee was relegated to second place.
As the western part of the country was better preserved, coffee cultivation continued to flourish there until the Second World War.
A growing industry
The sector is made up of both large haciendas and small-scale producers on land of less than 10 hectares.
In 1927, the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia (FedeCafé or FNC) was founded. Its main aims are to promote the industry and combat social problems (alcoholism, health, education, communications infrastructure, etc.). It is financed mainly by a tax in kind on exported coffee.
Colombia is a pioneer in the method of qualifying its coffee through different qualities.
In 1940, as a result of the war, the European market collapsed. The suffering Colombian coffee market was conducive to the outbreak of the La Violencia civil wars (1948-1960).
In 1962, the first International Coffee Agreement (ICA) and price regulation by the International Coffee Organization stabilized the situation.
In 1975, following the modernization of facilities and the rejuvenation of plantations with caturra coffee, production picked up again. The price of coffee soared due to frosts in Brazil and the civil war in Angola.
In July 1989, the AIC became null and void. It imposed export quotas and kept coffee prices high. The immediate consequence was a resurgence in overproduction and a collapse in the price.
Multiple crises are accumulating, whether economic, social or linked to coffee rust. Since 2015, Fedecafé has been optimistic about the resilience of farms in the face of climatic challenges and pests.
An extract of Colombian coffee
NOROHY organic liquid coffee extract concentrate comes from Colombia. It is grown at altitude (1400 to 1900 m) by indigenous communities through cooperatives in Cauca and Sierra Nevada. The terroir and specific know-how have enabled this coffee to be awarded the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) label.
The Sierra Nevada
The ANEI (Associacion de Productores Agroecologicos Indigenas) cooperative is based in the Sierra Nevada region. This region has been classified as a Man and Humanity Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO since 1979. In 2017, it became part of Colombia’s Intangible Heritage. Their geographical remoteness has favored agricultural practices in harmony with nature, as opposed to intensive farming. The Arhuacos have a sacred vision of the universe.
Cauca region
The CENCOIC cooperative (Central Cooperativa Indigena del Cauca) is located in the Cauca region of the Andes. It has played an important role in pooling and valorizing practices.
The local indigenous communities (Nasa and Misak) assert their identity notably through farming practices, the main local source of income. High-altitude agroforestry combined with a temperate climate and rich soils produce a complex coffee with fruity, cocoa notes.
The combination of these two terroirs adds aromatic complexity to NOROHY coffee extract. Its intensity is due to its high dry matter content. Discover this extract and all the richness of Colombian coffee in our tasty recipes!