Tolima Coffee Beans from Tolima, Colombia

There are 15 coffee-growing regions in Colombia, mostly distributed along the long, narrow mountain range that runs north to south in the southwestern part of the country. A 2017 map of Colombian coffee regions clearly shows the Tolima (中文: 托利马) coffee region located in the southwest of Colombia, neighboring the renowned specialty coffee regions of Huila and Cauca, and is part of Colombia’s major coffee-producing areas (it is the third-largest producing region in the country, accounting for 12% of the nation’s annual coffee output).

Geography of Tolima

The Tolima coffee region is located within Tolima Province, where the north-south oriented Andes Mountains (M. Andes) and Cordillera Mountains (M. Cordillera) run through, and between these two famous mountain ranges flows the Magdalena River (R. Magdalena), which runs from south to north.

This is a traditional region of Colombia, and the name Tolima originates from the people who have lived here since ancient times — in the local language, it means “covered in white snow,” which speaks to the high altitude and remote geography. To this day, transportation here remains difficult, and traveling by vehicle is particularly bumpy and arduous.

Coffee is mainly grown on the slopes on either side of the river valleys, at elevations ranging from 1,600 to 2,100 meters, as can also be seen on the map.

Coffee Production Model in Tolima

Similar to other coffee-growing regions in Colombia, the Tolima region is dominated by small farms and cooperative models. However, the farm sizes here are relatively larger compared to those in the southern coffee regions of Colombia, averaging around 10 to 15 hectares. High-quality coffee from Tolima comes from smallholder farmers and some production cooperatives.

Coffee Varieties and Quality in Tolima

Because Tolima Province has been one of the strongholds of Colombia’s anti-government armed groups, the region was not very stable in the past. Perhaps for this reason, the coffee here has maintained a high level of quality. In 2008, the SCAA competition champion came from this region, and some of Colombia’s top-tier coffee varieties originate here.

Flavor Characteristics of Tolima Coffee Beans

Coffee here is mainly processed using the washed method common in Central and South America. The typical flavor profile of Tolima coffee beans features distinct citrus and floral notes, medium to high acidity, a smooth body, and a well-balanced taste.

Front Street Coffee previously cupped a Tolima Geisha coffee, which not only had the classic citrus acidity and honey sweetness of Geisha, but also featured unique fruity sourness and sweetness, such as starfruit and orange. When cooled, it tasted like a cup of honey-flavored green tea.