Producer: Yessica Parra

Origin: Huila, Colombia

Process-type: Washed

Varietal: Aji

Cup: Cotton Candy Grape, Guava, Blueberry/Lavender, Panela

Yessica is a fourth generation coffee producer. Her farm, El Mirador, which she owns and operates with her brother and two of their friends, is located in the Pitalito area of Huila. Their farm is dedicated to specialty varieties and experimentation. Besides Aji, they also have Caturra, Pink Bourbon, Papayo, Sigra, and Gesha planted. Their family's journey began with their great-grandfather who decided to plant coffee as a means of survival. Their grandfather carried on the legacy and eventually became the first local buyer for the National Federation of Coffee Growers.

Aji, or Bourbon Aji, was discovered in Pitalito. The varietal made a splash a few years back at Colombia's Cup of Excellence competition and received high placement. Originally it was thought to be a Bourbon mutation, but was later revealed through genetic testing to have direct Ethiopian landrace lineage. It is a high cup quality varietal whose large, elongated coffee cherries resemble aji or chili peppers.

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