We've talked about different varieties that grow around the world, about flavors in the cup that are found far from our lands and that are difficult to know, but today we're going to talk about a Colombian variety, a bean from our land and one of which makes us the world kings of coffee , a Castillo coffee.
This variety takes its name from researcher Jaime del Castillo, who is credited with developing the first genetic strain resistant to coffee rust , the Colombia variety. From this comes the Castillo variety, which is also considered resistant to this pest, which is the most damaging to coffee trees.
Rust and coffee
As we've discussed on other occasions, one of the worst things that can happen to a coffee grower is to encounter a pest like leaf rust. This disease attacks the leaves, which begin to change from green to a more yellowish hue. When the leaves are affected, photosynthesis is disrupted, and therefore, their natural development. The trees begin to lose their energy and the ability to produce and/or grow their beans properly.
The Castillo variety has been cultivated in Colombia since 2005, and has thus far been found to be disease-free. Furthermore, it is a low-growing tree with high yields and good bean size, which greatly benefits producers and growers of this variety. It is said to have qualities similar to major coffee icons such as Typica, Caturra, and Bourbon, which we have already discussed and are familiar with for their high quality. It is thanks to having some of the Caturra variety that the high bean yield is achieved.
And since all chΓ’teaux are different and depend on their terrain, the developers of this coffee took on the task of creating six distinct varieties, something that contributes to its defense against rust.
- El Rosario Castle in the Department of Antioquia.
- Orangery Castle in the Department of Caldas.
- Paraguaicito Castle in the Department of QuindΓo.
- La Trinidad Castle in the Department of Tolima.
- Pueblo Bello Castle in the Department of Cesar.
- Santa BΓ‘rbara Castle in the Department of Cundinamarca.
Now in Colombia, we can feel like we're back in the Middle Ages, with castles from south to north, capable of defending our favorite flavor with all their might from the plagues that try to defeat it. These six castles produce approximately half of the coffee produced in our country, and they are the ones who defend to the world what we consider the best coffee of all: Colombian coffee.
This variety takes about 18 to 20 months to produce its first harvest, but when planted with a good distance between each tree and in soils above 1,600 meters above sea level, this variety can produce up to five harvests before its complete renewal.
A cup of castle
When we drink a coffee of this variety, we truly feel like royalty; its notes convey elegance and make us leaders in the coffee monarchy. It's a cup of coffee that stands out for its smoothness in body and bitterness, with a subtle flavor, an aroma that makes us feel like the kings we are, and a pronounced citric and fruity acidity, reminiscent of the finest banquets of our kingdom, along with the bitter notes of dark chocolate.
The castle of Colombia
Although we are aware that our country is not a place with a tradition of kingdoms and great castles, a man with his ingenuity and scientific curiosity made us the kings of coffee, by managing to build a castle in a coffee tree, a castle where large and productive beans sprout from trees with the strength of the rock itself and that, like the walls of castles, protects us from the evils that want to attack us. That is why every time we drink a cup of Colombian coffee , we should feel like kings, because in this mixture of sweetness, acidity and smoothness is reflected the strength of the Colombians who find in coffee our greatest reign, because Colombian coffee is the king.