The Papayo Variety: Colombia's Newest Exotic

Papayo takes its name from the elongated, pointed shape of its cherries — they resemble miniature papaya fruit, which is visually distinctive enough that farmers named it on sight. Now confirmed as an Ethiopian landrace, Papayo joins Chiroso, Ombligon, and Pink Bourbon in a wave of African-origin genetic discoveries transforming Colombia's specialty narrative. The variety is still rare commercially — most farmers are in early years of production — making each lot genuinely limited.

The cup is intensely tropical: banana, papaya, quince, lemon, hazelnut. JBC Coffee Roasters, a key US buyer, called it "a tropical fruit bonanza." Coffee Review gave it 91+ points, describing "crisp tropical brightness with pastry-like sweetness and cocoa depth."

Fabian Acevedo and La Providencia

Fabian Acevedo is a fourth-generation coffee farmer — his grandfather bought the La Argentina land in the 1950s. The farm is a true family operation: father leads processing, brothers manage the farm, Fabian handles commercialisation. The Coffee Quest has partnered with them since 2024. Alongside coffee, the farm grows lentils and plantain, and is actively expanding Papayo plantings to meet growing international demand.

"A tropical fruit bonanza — quince jam, banana, vanilla wafer, hazelnut, papaya, lemon, and apple." — JBC Coffee Roasters

Who Carries La Providencia Papayo?

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