Nestled into the Andean mountain ranges of western Bolivia near the Peruvian border, the Caranavi province has historical ties to the renowned Puno growing region. The indigenous Aymara people have cultivated coffee here for over a century at elevations over 1,400 meters above sea level. Putina Punco in Puno is right across the border, with families connected across both countries.
While Puno is celebrated for its distinctive old Bourbon varietal washed coffees, the nearby Caranavi farms showcase a wider array of varieties like Caturra, Typica, Java and even the rare, prized Geisha cultivar. In addition to pristine washed lots, these Bolivian producers also craft unique anaerobic natural coffees by drying the ripe cherries in the sun after a controlled anaerobic fermentation process.
The high altitude, warm subtropical highland climate, and nutrient-rich volcanic loam soils of this region imbue the coffees with lively, refreshing acidity and juicy stone fruit flavors like peach, nectarine and apricot. When we first cupped samples from our trusted importer last year, we were blown away by the vibrance and clean cups, quite unlike the Bolivian we tasted nearly 10 years ago.
Our first Caranavi offering is the Artist Reserve Bolivia Rosita Anaerobic Natural Caturra (link). https://colorroasters.
We've also just released the Bolivia Illimani Lot 6, a washed offering showcasing the elegance of this origin
While the nearby coffee hubs of Puno require incredibly long journeys to access, the recent road improvements into Caranavi have made this area much more accessible at only a 4-hour drive from La Paz. Our partner's roasting lab in Lima, Peru (Red Fox Coffee Merchants) was designed as a hub for not just Peru, but the entire region - so we're perfectly positioned to be at the forefront of exploring this newly resurgent coffee origin in Bolivia.
For those who love lively, vibrant cups brimming with fruit notes and intriguing textures, the unique Bolivian lots like the Rosita Anaerobic is ideal. If you love a clean and sweet dessert like coffee the Illimani offers a refreshing new tasting experience with notes of seven layer bar, golden raisin and a peach tea like tannic finish.
For those who love lively, vibrant cups brimming with fruit notes and intriguing textures, the unique Bolivian lots like the Rosita Anaerobic is ideal. If you love a clean and sweet dessert like coffee the Illimani offers a refreshing new tasting experience with notes of seven layer bar, golden raisin and a peach tea like tannic finish.
Keep an eye for 2 more lots before the end of the season!
