SUMO - Papayo, Washed Anaerobic, La Reserva, Colombia

☕ Sumo – Papayo

Producer: Marlon Rojas Pérez
Farm: La Reserva
Region: Pitalito, Huila, Colombia
Variety: Papayo
Process: Washed Anaerobic – Oxidised in Cherry
Altitude: 1,720 masl
Harvest: 2025

🌸 Cupping Notes

Tropical Fruits • Floral • Melon • Mango • Orange • Honey

💬 Description

Another outstanding coffee from Colombian Cup Tasters Champion Marlon Rojas Pérez. A third-generation producer, Marlon left a career as a commercial pilot to join his uncles at La Reserva, their family farm in Pitalito, Huila. Together, they focus on rare Colombian varieties and meticulous processing designed to bring out clarity, sweetness, and expressive character.

The Papayo variety takes its name from the papaya-like shape of its cherry — a natural mutation that offers greater resistance to pests such as broca. Once thought to be a Caturra mutation, Papayo is now believed to be more closely related to Ethiopian landrace varieties. It’s still rare and mostly found in Huila, joining Pink Bourbon and Ombligón as one of Colombia’s “new classics” that are redefining specialty coffee.

This lot underwent 48 hours of oxidation in cherry, followed by 88 hours of sealed anaerobic fermentation with mucilage. It was then washed and slowly dried on raised African beds, resulting in a vibrant, structured, and aromatic cup.

Papayo remains one of the most intriguing Colombian varieties — expressive, elegant, and born from curiosity and craft.