We are thrilled to welcome back El Nevado del Huila for the fifth consecutive year, a coffee that has been a constant in our lineup since the beginning. Despite its familiarity, you might not recognize the name because it's a slightly larger lot that was previously sold as two separate lots – Santa María and Pitalito. Our commitment to maintaining long-term relationships with farmers leads us to consistently source the same coffees, providing increased financial security to the farmers. However, as we expand, we also have the opportunity to introduce new coffees and forge new relationships. El Nevado del Huila takes the place of the now sold-out Colombia Giraldo.

This terrific medium roast offers a delightful blend of clean, creamy, and fresh flavors, featuring notes of sweet chocolate, light red apples, pear, and caramel. It strikes a balance between approachability and the sweet fruitiness we value in all our coffees.

The coffee originates from small farms in the lush, dramatic mountains surrounding Santa María and Pitalito. For over 50 years, the Huila region, including the mountains around Santa María, was under the control of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). The peace talks initiated in 2012 and the subsequent ceasefire in 2016 opened up the region to outside development, ending years of armed conflict and civilian strife. During the FARC era, these isolated farms produced high-quality specialty varieties, benefiting from their seclusion and resulting in excellent cupping scores.

The coffee producer’s group, Asociación La Victoria, receives support from the Fundación Samaria de Desarrollo Social Agroambiental y de Fomento a la Economía Campesina (FUSAMDES). Since 2011, FUSAMDES has been dedicated to improving and promoting the social, agro-environmental development of the peasant economy in the Santa María region. Our importer initiated a connection with Isabel Millán, daughter of farmers in Santa María, over five years ago, which led to the establishment of a working relationship with Andrés Perdomo, a founder of FUSAMDES. Andrés helps represent the growers in Asociación La Victoria, facilitating the introduction of their high-scoring coffees to the global market. The collaboration resulted in the construction of a coffee buying, grading, and training station for Santa María growers, allowing them to sample and cup their own roasted coffee for the first time. To delve deeper into this inspiring journey, we recommend reading this in-depth article from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture that sheds more light on Andres, FUSAMDES, La Victoria, and Santa María.