Variety: Castillo

Elevation: 1970 MASL

Process: Washed

Region: Pasto, Nariño

Tasting Notes: Gooseberry, white currant, hazelnut, caramel

About:

It’s been two years since we received the sad news of Doña Blanca’s passing. After sending a small gift to the Botina family and our heartfelt condolences, we received an encouraging word from Blanca’s daughter Geny.

“Muy agradecida por tan lindo Gesto me mencionó que Dios le Pague y que Dios los Bendiga a ty y Todos los de Vivid Coffee”

“I’m very grateful for this beautiful gesture and gift and may God bless you and everyone at Vivid Coffee and may he repay you.”

We also made a video in memory of Blanca that we posted on Instagram. Our friend Jairito from Nariño was able to share the video in person with Geny - we were told that tears were shared and we received the beautiful news that Geny would continue in Blanca’s footsteps as a coffee producer. She had been preparing for the day, as she took an interest in coffee farming more than any of her sisters.

We were unable to buy Geny’s first harvest after Blanca’s passing because of a logistical mistake while Azahar was transitioning to a new receiving warehouse. But we remained intent on purchasing coffee from Finca Aguacate and the Botina family.

In 2025, Ian was able to visit Geny and her family at Finca Aguacate. It was a meaningful visit with lots of hugs and tears shared.

We were able to purchase the most recent harvest from Finca Aguacate and are releasing it on our website today. It is as stunning as we remember - a shining example of the very best washed coffee from Nariño. In fact, we dare you to find a better washed Castillo. We taste zippy gooseberry and white currant that is balanced with caramel and toasted hazelnuts.

We are grateful to share this coffee with you in loving memory of Blanca Marina Botina.

More from Azahar Coffee on Blanca Marina and Finca Aguacate:

Blanca Marina Botina’s finca El Aguacate is located next door to a school and consists of one-hectare bursting with healthy, dark green Castillo and Caturra coffee trees. Her finca is found on the main road in the vereda of La Caldera and her colorful home, painted pink and white, is directly across the street from the neighborhood basketball court, a modest rectangle of concrete that overlooks a steep drop into a verdant valley; a landscape characteristic of this part of Colombia. Doña Marina runs her farm with the help of her daughters, grand- daughters and great-granddaughters. Her oldest daughter Jenny is her biggest helper, and also works on neighboring farms when there is less to do at El Aguacate. Doña Marina speaks quickly and quietly. She has a long braid of white hair and when one of her granddaughters arrives home from her local daycare she introduces her to us as “el futuro de la caficultura”, the future of coffee farming.

We sit down to talk over coffee sweetened with panela before going out to tour the cafetal. Doña Marina tells us about her family, her nine grandchildren and about her coffee, which she nourishes with organic fertilizers and compost. “Después de mi Dios, el café” she states proudly—” after my God, comes coffee”. Her favorite variety to grow is Castillo because it is hardy and rust-resistant. Her finca is unique in that it is mostly flat. Before we enter her coffee plantation she apologizes for all the weeds and as we walk through the labyrinth that is El Aguacate she expertly rips the appropriate weeds without missing a step, exuding the confidence and knowledge of someone who has been farming for most of her long life.

Doña Marina’s coffee grows between 1,950 and 1,970 m.a.s.l. and the post-harvest process consisted of the traditional beneficio most common throughout Colombia. The Castillo cherry was hand-selected at its peak level of ripeness and was de-pulped and then fermented for 24 hours. The coffee was then washed and dried on patio for 15 days.

Doña Marina is one of several women producing partners we at Azahar are lucky enough to be able to work with. We value her passion, dedication and experience.