Colombia Aponte – Honey

The Inga community of Aponte is made of ancient, prehispanic Incas descendants. During the conquest, they remained isolated high in the mountains, which became their natural refuge. This community kept itself isolated from the rest of Colombia until the second half of the nineteenth century. Unfortunately, in the 90s of the last century, their contact was mainly criminal, and Inga’s refuge became a place of cruelty. For years the tribe was forcibly involved in poppy and heroin production under the influence of guerrilla groups, drug traffickers, and paramilitaries. The once peaceful mountains were full of illegal plantations and violence, and the Ingas were trapped there until twenty years ago.

In the last decades, the mountains became a safe zone for the Inga tribe, and the illegal crops were eradicated to make way for a new crop – coffee. Inga Aponte Reservation territory is mainly about smallholder properties situated high in the mountains, at an average of 1.900 – 2.200 meters above sea level, surrounded by picturable views. Variety as Caturra, Castillo and Colombia are planted here. Producers process coffee on their own properties. The coffee is washed or honey processed and dried on the covered raised beds. They turned to the honey process to reduce water used for washed coffee and complement the natural complexity of coffees from this unique region.

Nariño’s closeness to the equator delivers intense exposure to the sun year-long, influencing the cherry maturation rate.