El Tablón
STORY
In the southeast of the department of Nariño, there is a municipality called El Tablón de Goméz, home to the producers from El Tablón. Tablón de Gómez, or El Tablón as people in the region call it, is a tiny community nestled in the Macizo Colombiano, with a very strong indigenous influence and culture. In the 16th century when El Tablón was inhabited by indigenous tribes, there were many rattlesnakes in the region. The indigenous loved the harmonious music of rattles so made and wore jewellery and accessories, that made similar sounds. In their rituals and spiritual events, they danced and their accessories would sound out like rattles, which could be heard from all over.
Coffee production in this region is relatively new due to the presence of guerrilla groups over the past few decades. Three years ago, we had the opportunity to start sourcing coffee from this special and exotic region, working directly with the coffee farmers, as well as with the indigenous community (Resguardo de Inga Aponte). Most of the coffee is grown above 1,900 meters above sea level, making it some of the highest grown coffee that Caravela sources in Colombia.
“El Tablón is a coffee with notes of mangosteen, orange peel and red apple, with a silky body with vanilla and caramel flavours.”
Farm Varieties
Size

Average Farm Size
3,5 Hectares
Location

Country

Municipality

Department

Elevation
1,600 – 2,100 MASL
Technical info

Harvest
May – September

Processing Method
Washed

Shade
Guamo, Leucaena, Plantains.

Drying Method
Sun-dried on parabolic covered patios and raised beds.