Los Ocobos

On the eastern side of the imposing central Cordillera, mountain range, in Colombia lies Ibague, the capital city of the department of Tolima. This city has a long-standing tradition of folklore music and ranks as the seventh most populated city in Colombia. On a clear and sunny day, the snow-capped peaks of the Nevado del Tolima can be seen against the horizon. Ibague is an important economic hub, serving as a passage for trucks traveling from the south of Colombia to cross the central cordillera and continue north towards the ports. Twice a year, in January and February, and between May and July after the rainy seasons, the city of Ibague is adorned in pink. During these times, if you walk through the streets and parks of Ibague, you can admire the blooming of hundreds of Ocobos, or Pink Pouis, which beautify the city. The economy of Ibague is primarily based on the industrial and agricultural sectors. The surrounding highlands, such as Rovira, the Combeima Valley, and other areas, are home to coffee farms who contribute to Los Ocobos.

The Ocobos blend aims to showcase and highlight the coffee produced by the farmers Caravela works with in this area. Caravela opened a purchasing station in Ibague in 2018 to better serve these producers. Some of them had already been selling their coffee but had to deliver it to nearby purchasing stations. Additionally, a dedicated PECA technician visits the farms in this area to provide guidance and advice to the producers on topics such as processing, drying, farm management, and environmentally friendly practices.