Colombia – Peñas Blancas

Description

REGION: Huila
PRODUCER: Peñas Blancas Processing Center (Nestor Lasso & Jhoan Vergara) / Multiple smallholders
PROCESS: Washed
VARIETY: Castillo, Caturra
ELEVATION: 1700–2000 MASL
TASTING NOTES: Honeydew, Raspberry, Panela, Milk Chocolate 

PRODUCER STORY
Peñas Blancas is a social-impact processing center in Acevedo, Huila, led by Nestor Lasso and Jhoan Vergara. It gives smallholder farmers in the Pitalito–San Agustín area access to advanced post-harvest technology and expertise they could not achieve on their own. This is a true regional lot: cherries from multiple producers are centralized, so quality and consistency improve at scale. Farmers sell their cherries directly under a transparent model that delivers higher premiums and more stable income. The coffee is a proud partnership between Peñas Blancas, Atlantic Specialty, and Coffeebar. 

THE PROCESS
Castillo and Caturra varietals grown at 1700–2000 masl. After the mucilage is removed, the coffee undergoes controlled fermentation under expert oversight at Peñas Blancas. The result keeps the clean body and bright acidity of a classic Huila washed coffee while the fermentation brings out the honeydew, raspberry, and panela notes that define this lot. Careful drying and centralized processing ensure consistency and traceability from farm through export. 

THE CUP
A bright, sweet, washed process coffee with clear fruit and a soft finish. Honeydew and raspberry sit alongside panela sweetness and milk chocolate, all carried by the balanced body and lively acidity typical of southern Huila. The controlled fermentation adds clarity and lift without losing the classic washed structure. Excellent across brew methods.