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'Colombian Coffee' is a Protected designation of origin granted by the European Union (September 2007) that applies to the coffee produced in Colombia^[1] The colombian coffee has been recognized worldwide as having high quality and distinctive taste. The main importers of Colombian coffee are United States, Germany, Japan, Holland and Switzerland.

Contents

Description

History

Café de Colombia logo

Coffee research in Colombia

References

External links

Description

The colombian coffee, also known as Colombian Mild is characterized by its soft terroir. It is produced only with crops of Coffea arabica of several varieties. Among others, Maragogype, Caturra, Typica and Bourbon cultivars are grown. When Colombian coffee is freshly roasted it has a bright acidity, is heavy in body and is intensely aromatic.

History

Coffee was first introduced to the country of Colombia in the early 1800s. The cultive of coffee with trade purposes started since 1835 ^[2] in Salazar de las Palmas, Norte de Santander and during all the XX century was the main product of exportation in Colombia. In 1999 represented 3,7% of the national income and 37% of the sources of employment. The departments productors of coffee in Colombia are: Norte de Santander, Antioquia, Valle del Cauca, Tolima, Caldas, Risaralda, Quindío and Cundinamarca.
The area represented by the deparments of Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío is known as Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis because this territory concentrates the main amount of high quality cultive crops. In 1999, an earthquake affected severely this region, which expedimented later a fast economic recovery.
At the present time, exist in Colombia over one million square miles of coffee crops. Near 75% of the production is exported. The intern market of coffee is regulated by Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia. Today Colombia accounts for about 12% of the coffee market (by value) in the world, second only to Brazil.

Café de Colombia logo

Juan Valdez is the logotipo of colombian coffee (Café de Colombia).
The Juan Valdez logotype was created by Doyle Dane Bernbach in march, 1981. It includes the fictional character, Juan Valdez, his mule (Conchita) and the colombian mountains in the background. Its purpose is identify the coffee products made with 100% Colombian coffee and approved by the National federation of Coffee-growers.

Coffee research in Colombia

The national center for coffee research (Spanish acronym CENICAFE) develops several lines of research in genetic improvement of varieties of Arabica, and natural resistence against pests such the Colombia Variety (a modified Caturra which is resistant to Roya (Hemileia vastatrix) and programs against the Coffee borer beetle such as the biologic control with Beauveria bassiana fungus.

References

1. European Union gives to 'Café de Colombia' the protected denomination of origin, Terra, Published 13/08/2007
2. History of coffee and Economy of coffee in Colombia, Coffee Guides

External links

★ Café de Colombia Official Webpage