The Antioquian land has always been recognized for its strength and for many traditions, Antioquia has been a coffee-growing land since the beginning of the country. And to this day, their coffee-drinking customs not only remain the same, they're also growing. That's why it's important, when learning about Colombian coffee , to learn about and discuss a region that accounts for a large part of the country's production, one that has contributed both to technological development and to preserving traditions. Let's discover together all about the Antioquian flavor in our cup.
Let's get to know Antioquia
One of the largest departments in the country and the second most populous, with nearly 7 million Antioquians living in its territory, spread across a total of 125 municipalities, although the vast majority live in the capital and the metropolitan area. The department is located in the northwestern part of Colombia in the Andean and Caribbean regions. , to the north it borders directly with the Colombian Caribbean Sea, the departments of Córdoba and Bolívar, to the south we find the departments of Caldas and Risaralda, to the east Santander and Boyacá and to the west Chocó.
It is a department that rises from sea level to 4,060 meters above sea level, with landscapes as varied as sunrise over the sea to sunset in the cold of the moors. Its landscapes also include jungle areas and major tributaries such as the Atrato River on the border with Chocó, the Cauca River runs through the department, and the Magdalena River borders Santander. Other important tributaries are the Porce and Nechí rivers, and the Guatapé Reservoir. The department is one of the main producers of energy due to its water sources. We also know that water is essential for coffee production, as is the climate, which varies greatly depending on the area of the department.
Antioquian coffee
A territory like Antioquia brings together a beautiful diversity and an immense productive capacity, for the same reason in this department Coffee has found an ideal place to bring to the cup all the flavors of the different origins, profiles, and qualities that your geography offers. The department has worked hard to adapt its cultivation practices to meet the needs and high demands of the global market, making it a high-level export department due to its quality .
Antioquia is the department of the country with the most coffee growers , more than 80,000 producers, who visit more than 104,000 farms in 94 municipalities of the department and nearly 123,000 hectares under cultivation. It is an area of small plots with farms, mostly with not very large crops, or rather very small ones, with only one and a half hectares of coffee per farm. In contrast, less than 1% have more than 15 hectares under cultivation. Additionally, it is a region where coffee growers are well paid, and pickers who come to the region during harvest season are provided with good lodging and food, as is traditional in Antioquian hospitality.
The Paisa matron
Paisa women have traditionally been empowered. It's a region where women have always had great importance and families revolve around them. Coffee is clearly part of these Paisa traditions. They are great experts in its preparation, but also in its harvesting and selection, which is part of the coffee-making process. In the department there are more than 16 thousand women dedicated to coffee work. A quarter of them are single mothers. They cultivate more than 22,000 hectares and are members of six women's coffee growers' associations.
But what is the Paisa cup like?
In this land of vigor, strength and green mountains, with a temperate climate and delicious coffee , we could not expect a cup of coffee without these same characteristics that give it a high level, The Paisa cup is a cup with an intense, fruity aroma due to being a region of cultivated lands with a great variety of fruits and a herbal touch. These sensations are echoed in its fragrance, as are the notes of panela and blackberry. The acidity of this coffee does have a strong tendency toward citrus, but the sensation of acidity in the cup is classified as medium. It also closes with a delicate body and a very good balance of flavors, making this a truly unique experience.
Land of flowers and coffee
A place with the tradition of the muleteers, who in ancient Antioquia welcomed the coffee-growing region and today preserve their traditions and flavors. In this land where strength and vigor represent its people, coffee becomes a reflection of this, which is why the invitation on this tour of Colombian coffee is to learn to know each department through its cup .