1 00:00:00,100 --> 00:00:00,633 Colombia has a mixed reputation 2 00:00:03,100 --> 00:00:05,866 internationally, but nearly everyone agrees 3 00:00:06,033 --> 00:00:09,533 that its coffee is world class. 4 00:00:09,700 --> 00:00:14,366 For millions of Colombians from the capital of Bogota 5 00:00:14,533 --> 00:00:19,066 to the rural Eje Cafetero. 6 00:00:19,233 --> 00:00:24,833 Coffee is a way of life. 7 00:00:31,933 --> 00:00:34,566 Funding for In the Americas with David 8 00:00:34,733 --> 00:00:40,100 Yetman , was provided by Agnese Haury. 9 00:00:54,266 --> 00:01:04,300 music 10 00:01:08,166 --> 00:01:10,400 If you're one of the more than four billion people 11 00:01:10,566 --> 00:01:11,900 in the world who love coffee, 12 00:01:12,066 --> 00:01:15,000 you know that Colombia is a very special place. 13 00:01:15,166 --> 00:01:17,700 To get to the coffee producing area you have to 14 00:01:17,866 --> 00:01:20,666 stop first in Bogota, the capital. 15 00:01:20,833 --> 00:01:25,033 It's a city of seven million people. 16 00:01:26,666 --> 00:01:28,900 I brought along with me my friend Bill Beezley, 17 00:01:29,033 --> 00:01:31,266 an expert on Colombian history. 18 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:32,966 We're planning to meet up with Colombian, 19 00:01:33,100 --> 00:01:40,300 cultural anthropologist and coffee expert, Marcela Vasquez. 20 00:01:42,433 --> 00:01:44,433 Bogota is a proud and beautiful city built on 21 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:46,933 the model of Spanish cities like Madrid and 22 00:01:47,100 --> 00:01:49,933 we're in the Candelaria neighborhood, 23 00:01:50,066 --> 00:01:51,800 the oldest part of the city, 24 00:01:51,933 --> 00:01:54,366 with beautiful buildings, a history of Bohemian 25 00:01:54,533 --> 00:02:00,966 people, musicians, artists, poets. 26 00:02:01,100 --> 00:02:03,133 About a block away from the Plaza Bolívar. 27 00:02:03,300 --> 00:02:04,866 Yeah, I can see it down there. 28 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:06,933 Yes, that's the political and religious center of 29 00:02:07,100 --> 00:02:11,333 Bogota and the nation of Colombia. 30 00:02:11,500 --> 00:02:13,500 Right now we are in the plaza Bolívar, 31 00:02:13,633 --> 00:02:15,566 which is at the heart of the city. 32 00:02:15,733 --> 00:02:18,500 We are surrounded by buildings that 33 00:02:18,666 --> 00:02:21,900 date back to colonial times. 34 00:02:22,066 --> 00:02:24,366 In the back, is the capital building. 35 00:02:24,533 --> 00:02:28,500 On that side, we have the Palace of Justice and on my right 36 00:02:28,666 --> 00:02:35,300 is the Iglesia, which is the largest cathedral in Colombia. 37 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:40,133 It was built in 1807 and it took about twenty years to finish it. 38 00:02:40,300 --> 00:02:42,933 It is in this site that the first mass was 39 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:47,533 celebrated in Bogota in 1538. 40 00:02:47,700 --> 00:02:49,500 Bogota is a great example or a great 41 00:02:49,666 --> 00:02:52,500 case study of urban renewal. 42 00:02:52,633 --> 00:02:55,666 Today Bogota is considered the Athens of South 43 00:02:55,833 --> 00:02:59,400 America because of the number of museums, 44 00:02:59,533 --> 00:03:02,600 libraries, universities that it has. 45 00:03:02,766 --> 00:03:11,066 It has also been named the city of music by UNESCO in 2012. 46 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:13,533 Colombians are proud of their musicians of all 47 00:03:13,666 --> 00:03:17,833 type, classical and popular, Shakira, Juanes, 48 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,333 are two of the most popular musicians in the 49 00:03:20,500 --> 00:03:23,833 world, not just the Spanish speaking world. 50 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:28,333 That's true and here is the parade up here. 51 00:03:34,933 --> 00:03:39,666 It's chilly in Bogota at 8,000 feet. 52 00:03:39,833 --> 00:03:44,233 I'm here to find out about coffee. 53 00:03:48,700 --> 00:03:53,600 Let me tell you, the aroma of coffee in here is enchanting. 54 00:03:53,733 --> 00:03:56,333 (Spanish) 55 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:15,600 To Colombian coffee. 56 00:04:15,766 --> 00:04:16,900 Lao. 57 00:04:17,066 --> 00:04:20,966 Gracias Lao. 58 00:04:21,133 --> 00:04:23,600 The captains of the coffee industry in Colombia were 59 00:04:23,766 --> 00:04:26,333 very smart to create this symbol. 60 00:04:26,500 --> 00:04:30,300 Juan Valdez is a brilliant image of the Paisa culture 61 00:04:30,466 --> 00:04:33,766 and the Paisa culture is represented by those 62 00:04:33,933 --> 00:04:36,733 frontiersmen, who in the middle of the 19th century moved into 63 00:04:36,866 --> 00:04:41,400 Central West Colombia and started planting coffee. 64 00:04:41,566 --> 00:04:43,600 They were wildly successful at it and in 65 00:04:43,766 --> 00:04:48,533 the end they created a culture, a food, a coffee, 66 00:04:48,700 --> 00:04:52,766 music and a symbol for all Colombians. 67 00:04:52,933 --> 00:04:56,333 Paisas are people from northwestern Colombia. 68 00:04:56,500 --> 00:05:00,766 The heart of Paisa country is also coffee country. 69 00:05:00,933 --> 00:05:02,633 It's a mountainous and hilly land, 70 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:07,533 a few valleys west of Bogota. 71 00:05:07,700 --> 00:05:10,466 We're heading out into the general region, which is 72 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:15,300 known as Quindio and it's the coffee center of Colombia. 73 00:05:15,433 --> 00:05:18,433 I haven't seen a single coffee tree in town. 74 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:20,400 They'll be a few million out in the boonies and 75 00:05:20,566 --> 00:05:26,200 we'll find out a lot more about coffee. 76 00:05:35,733 --> 00:05:37,466 Colombia is a very mountainous country. 77 00:05:37,633 --> 00:05:40,933 Thanks to the great Codillera of the Andes. 78 00:05:41,100 --> 00:05:43,533 The Andes have brought both joy and sorrow to 79 00:05:43,666 --> 00:05:45,666 Colombia, numerous earthquakes, 80 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,833 many volcanic eruptions that have killed thousands 81 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,366 of people, but they have also brought volcanic soil 82 00:05:52,533 --> 00:05:59,333 to the coffee region and that is a producer of great joy. 83 00:05:59,500 --> 00:06:01,133 In the coffee growing region, 84 00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:03,200 there is one Pueblo, one small town that's well 85 00:06:03,366 --> 00:06:05,766 known throughout Colombia for its beauty, 86 00:06:05,933 --> 00:06:09,966 its location, its streams nearby. 87 00:06:10,133 --> 00:06:12,466 It's called Salento. 88 00:06:12,633 --> 00:06:14,733 It has a peculiar history and its kept its 89 00:06:14,900 --> 00:06:19,466 compact nature for 100 years or so. 90 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,333 (Spanish) 91 00:06:22,500 --> 00:06:24,400 Travelers founded this town. 92 00:06:24,566 --> 00:06:26,866 Originally it was an ancient pathway 93 00:06:27,033 --> 00:06:30,800 used by indigenous people. 94 00:06:30,933 --> 00:06:33,833 Then it became a royal road used by the Spaniards 95 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:39,700 as a part of the colonization process throughout the Americas. 96 00:06:39,833 --> 00:06:41,866 Later on it was used by merchants 97 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:46,266 who settled throughout the region. 98 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:53,733 This town grew as travelers died and their survivors stayed on. 99 00:06:53,866 --> 00:06:56,500 Salento is different from other towns and for many 100 00:06:56,666 --> 00:06:59,666 years the inhabitants retained the magic of the 101 00:06:59,833 --> 00:07:05,666 past as they hold on to the old traditions and customs. 102 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,500 There is a strong sense of belonging to this land, 103 00:07:08,666 --> 00:07:12,966 where many have lived for numerous generations. 104 00:07:13,133 --> 00:07:16,066 (Spanish) 105 00:07:16,233 --> 00:07:19,000 Traditional dress has given away to a 106 00:07:19,166 --> 00:07:23,333 modern lifestyle, but up until about twenty years 107 00:07:23,466 --> 00:07:26,800 ago it was common to see the Paisa, 108 00:07:26,933 --> 00:07:30,733 a kind of mountain man walk around with his checkered poncho 109 00:07:30,900 --> 00:07:37,100 and leathered satchel in the traditional Paisa style. 110 00:07:40,366 --> 00:07:42,666 To get out of the rain, I've worked my way into a 111 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:46,933 hat shop and I recognize these hats as being indigenous. 112 00:07:47,066 --> 00:07:49,500 They're from the coast and I know they're made of 113 00:07:49,666 --> 00:07:52,966 palm but I've never seen anything like them before. 114 00:07:53,133 --> 00:07:56,300 I have to try one on. 115 00:07:56,433 --> 00:07:58,900 I think it will probably last me well. 116 00:07:59,066 --> 00:08:03,033 It's woven by hand, sewn together and in a wet climate. 117 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,200 It's perfect. 118 00:08:05,366 --> 00:08:08,100 Okay you follow the guide, and then you just fold it 119 00:08:08,266 --> 00:08:12,266 and this hat is from a place called Tochin from the coast. 120 00:08:12,433 --> 00:08:16,566 That's right on the Pacific. 121 00:08:16,733 --> 00:08:19,700 Then you just turn it around, 122 00:08:19,833 --> 00:08:22,733 turn it like this and you can put it in your pocket. 123 00:08:22,900 --> 00:08:24,700 So when I'm riding on my horse or my burro and the 124 00:08:24,866 --> 00:08:29,666 sun comes out, I can pull it out and put it on. I see. 125 00:08:33,300 --> 00:08:35,300 You can see why Salento has become a major tourist 126 00:08:35,433 --> 00:08:38,000 attraction here in central Colombia. 127 00:08:38,166 --> 00:08:39,933 It's not just the native materials, 128 00:08:40,100 --> 00:08:42,600 oh well they're great, but the addition of European 129 00:08:42,733 --> 00:08:44,733 elements, the balconies and the overhangs and all 130 00:08:44,900 --> 00:08:47,200 the colors and the narrow streets. 131 00:08:47,366 --> 00:08:49,233 Put those together and you have this combination of 132 00:08:49,366 --> 00:08:53,766 effects, that really is irresistible. 133 00:08:55,033 --> 00:08:57,166 So tell me about the Eje Cafetero Okay the 134 00:08:57,300 --> 00:09:00,466 Eje Cafetero is the heartland of coffee production in Colombia. 135 00:09:00,633 --> 00:09:03,900 It has very specific characteristics that 136 00:09:04,066 --> 00:09:06,166 make coffee specially good. 137 00:09:06,333 --> 00:09:09,666 So it's produced between 4,000 and 6,000 feet, 138 00:09:09,833 --> 00:09:13,400 so the high altitude makes it really good. 139 00:09:13,566 --> 00:09:15,333 If you go higher than that it changes. 140 00:09:15,500 --> 00:09:16,733 It's too cold up there. 141 00:09:16,833 --> 00:09:19,966 It also has, there's a lot of rain here and volcanic soil. 142 00:09:20,133 --> 00:09:22,300 So the soil is very good for coffee. 143 00:09:22,433 --> 00:09:24,433 Just a very special combination in here 144 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:28,233 and we get really good coffee. 145 00:09:31,466 --> 00:09:33,833 Well, there is a machine. 146 00:09:33,966 --> 00:09:38,766 This looks like a bomb, it looks like a Rube Goldberg. 147 00:09:38,900 --> 00:09:41,966 (Spanish) 148 00:09:42,133 --> 00:09:44,733 So this is from 1905. 149 00:09:44,900 --> 00:09:47,933 (Spanish) 150 00:09:48,100 --> 00:09:49,900 These are real Italian. 151 00:09:50,033 --> 00:09:52,133 I feel like I'm in the Giro d'Italia bike race. 152 00:09:52,300 --> 00:09:53,600 And we can make some coffee. 153 00:09:53,766 --> 00:09:55,700 Do you know how to operate this? 154 00:09:55,866 --> 00:09:57,166 Yeah! 155 00:09:57,333 --> 00:10:00,833 Alright, I'm going to stand back. 156 00:10:00,966 --> 00:10:04,933 So now we conserve and have a really good cup of coffee. 157 00:10:05,066 --> 00:10:06,400 Oh that's how you clean the dishes. 158 00:10:06,533 --> 00:10:10,400 (Spanish) 159 00:10:29,433 --> 00:10:31,066 It's very good coffee, huh? 160 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,566 That is very good coffee! 161 00:10:33,700 --> 00:10:36,700 Yeah! 162 00:10:44,900 --> 00:10:47,466 The Quindío coffee producing region is dotted with 163 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:51,866 small coffee producing farms, family owned farms over 164 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:57,466 500 of them. Small producers mean small towns, traditional 165 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:02,666 towns some of them with very distinct local architecture. 166 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,100 (Spanish) 167 00:11:05,233 --> 00:11:07,000 The architecture here is unique, 168 00:11:07,133 --> 00:11:11,766 much the way a world heritage site is unique. 169 00:11:11,900 --> 00:11:14,233 We are in the landscape of coffee plantations and the 170 00:11:14,366 --> 00:11:18,400 buildings fit in well with the environment. 171 00:11:18,533 --> 00:11:21,000 Their walls are made from bamboo, 172 00:11:21,133 --> 00:11:26,300 insulated with horse manure and then stuccoed with plaster. 173 00:11:26,433 --> 00:11:28,600 The design is called ? ? 174 00:11:28,733 --> 00:11:31,800 Colombiano. 175 00:11:31,933 --> 00:11:33,733 Finlandia is also known as the 176 00:11:33,866 --> 00:11:39,833 heartland of coffee basket making. 177 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,200 The sign here says this is the handy craft route of 178 00:11:43,333 --> 00:11:46,533 Quindío and the first example we have are these baskets. 179 00:11:46,666 --> 00:11:49,433 These are utilitarian, no question. 180 00:11:49,566 --> 00:11:52,866 Probably, for gathering the cherries is what they 181 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:54,533 call the fruits of the coffee, 182 00:11:54,666 --> 00:11:56,766 the cherries of the coffee beans. 183 00:11:56,900 --> 00:12:00,133 This would be about the right size for the average harvester. 184 00:12:00,266 --> 00:12:03,866 You could put 20 or 30 lbs of coffee in there pulling 185 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:07,133 them off the trees as fast as they could. 186 00:12:11,166 --> 00:12:12,766 Coffee harvesters seem to have given 187 00:12:12,900 --> 00:12:15,233 up on the old time baskets. 188 00:12:15,366 --> 00:12:19,366 Everyone uses plastic ones instead. 189 00:12:19,500 --> 00:12:22,433 In the country of Colombia, 190 00:12:22,566 --> 00:12:24,366 the coffee farms vary from about ten acres, 191 00:12:24,500 --> 00:12:25,933 which is the average. 192 00:12:26,066 --> 00:12:28,433 To this one it's about 100 acres, 193 00:12:28,566 --> 00:12:30,200 so there's a huge variation. 194 00:12:30,333 --> 00:12:31,533 This is a rather large one, 195 00:12:31,666 --> 00:12:34,633 but the area is just a mosaic of farms. 196 00:12:34,766 --> 00:12:36,433 Each with its own personality and probably 197 00:12:36,566 --> 00:12:39,466 each with its own distinct variety because of the changes 198 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,700 in topography, the changes, the tiny changes in rainfall. 199 00:12:42,833 --> 00:12:44,766 The amount of exposure to sun and the soil, 200 00:12:44,900 --> 00:12:47,666 so everyone's distinct. 201 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:49,366 (Spanish) 202 00:12:49,500 --> 00:12:53,966 We are on the Potosi La Vereda coffee plantation. 203 00:12:54,100 --> 00:12:57,066 We have several different varieties of coffee beans. 204 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:03,666 We have Colombia la Suprema and the Caturra variety. 205 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:08,433 Japanese buyers want only Caturra beans. 206 00:13:08,566 --> 00:13:11,100 While, others want the Colombia beans. 207 00:13:11,233 --> 00:13:13,333 They are completely different without one 208 00:13:13,466 --> 00:13:15,400 being better than the other, 209 00:13:15,533 --> 00:13:21,333 just like there are tastes for everything. 210 00:13:21,466 --> 00:13:26,400 These plants are just a year old and already they are producing. 211 00:13:26,533 --> 00:13:34,066 These little coffee trees are now two 212 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:36,466 years old and they are full of cherries. 213 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:38,733 After only two years, thousands and thousands of 214 00:13:38,866 --> 00:13:43,166 them and look at that potential cup of coffee there. 215 00:13:43,300 --> 00:13:45,300 You can almost smell the aroma. 216 00:13:45,433 --> 00:13:47,066 (Spanish) 217 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:49,733 My grandparents were coffee growers as well as my father. 218 00:13:49,866 --> 00:13:52,633 This plantation is my inheritance 219 00:13:52,766 --> 00:13:56,566 from both my parents. 220 00:13:56,700 --> 00:13:59,066 Over the last few years, more and more women have 221 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:03,966 entered the gremio or the fraternity of growers. 222 00:14:04,100 --> 00:14:08,733 We manage our own lands, we understand the entire process. 223 00:14:08,866 --> 00:14:11,133 In the beginning, it was not easy. 224 00:14:11,266 --> 00:14:13,433 We must know how to manage all aspects of 225 00:14:13,566 --> 00:14:16,000 the coffee production process. 226 00:14:16,133 --> 00:14:21,133 How, where and when to plant, fertilize, 227 00:14:21,266 --> 00:14:24,833 harvest and restore the fields. 228 00:14:24,966 --> 00:14:28,000 In the Quindío region they plant on very steep hillsides. 229 00:14:28,133 --> 00:14:33,633 Their plants only grow to one meter, 80 centimeters tall. 230 00:14:33,766 --> 00:14:36,833 In other countries, they plant trees that will grow 231 00:14:36,966 --> 00:14:41,900 much taller and they harvest them all by machine. 232 00:14:42,033 --> 00:14:45,033 Here, it's hand harvested. 233 00:14:45,166 --> 00:14:47,433 We're now among the adult trees that are in the 234 00:14:47,566 --> 00:14:49,566 height of their production and although we're not on 235 00:14:49,700 --> 00:14:52,400 the full harvest season, there's still plenty of the cherries. 236 00:14:52,533 --> 00:14:54,833 (Spanish) 237 00:14:54,966 --> 00:14:58,433 So you can squeeze the cherry and the 238 00:14:58,566 --> 00:15:02,033 coffee bean drops out and this is actually sweet tasting. 239 00:15:02,166 --> 00:15:03,566 We're going to take these right now to where they 240 00:15:03,700 --> 00:15:05,700 call the beneficio, the processing plant that will 241 00:15:05,833 --> 00:15:08,900 remove this outer pulp and we will then have the next 242 00:15:09,033 --> 00:15:15,066 stage of the coffee beans ready to go. 243 00:15:25,500 --> 00:15:26,966 (Spanish) 244 00:15:27,100 --> 00:15:30,233 Well, it's passed through the initial 245 00:15:30,366 --> 00:15:32,633 processing plant and come out here and the only way 246 00:15:32,766 --> 00:15:35,466 that they can guarantee that it contains, 247 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:37,866 that the coffee contains the best possible 248 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,400 Colombian flavor is to dry it here and they can lift 249 00:15:41,533 --> 00:15:45,300 it up and they can listen to the sound the coffee 250 00:15:45,433 --> 00:15:49,400 makes when it is falling. 251 00:15:49,533 --> 00:15:51,900 And that way they can tell if it's really ready to be 252 00:15:52,033 --> 00:15:53,966 made into coffee, very traditional, 253 00:15:54,100 --> 00:15:56,800 very individually sensitive. 254 00:15:56,933 --> 00:16:00,166 It's not commercialized. 255 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:07,066 (Spanish) 256 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:08,966 We are in the center of Colombia's 257 00:16:09,100 --> 00:16:10,400 coffee heartland. 258 00:16:10,533 --> 00:16:12,466 A region whose tradition are longstanding. 259 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:17,500 Traditions passed onto us by our forefathers. 260 00:16:17,633 --> 00:16:20,200 A half hour drive takes us to another small producer 261 00:16:20,333 --> 00:16:24,433 with a very different philosophy. 262 00:16:24,566 --> 00:16:26,500 (Spanish) 263 00:16:26,633 --> 00:16:30,966 Our coffee groves are lush gardens. 264 00:16:31,133 --> 00:16:34,233 We are very proud of what we have created here. 265 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:36,700 We have faced many difficulties with pests 266 00:16:36,866 --> 00:16:39,500 and we have successfully resisted without ever 267 00:16:39,666 --> 00:16:44,600 using a single gram of pesticides. 268 00:16:44,766 --> 00:16:47,166 We've all heard of shade grown coffee and this is 269 00:16:47,333 --> 00:16:49,500 shade grown coffee and this is shade grown coffee. 270 00:16:49,633 --> 00:16:52,100 This is shade from these great old trees and these 271 00:16:52,233 --> 00:16:56,233 particular coffee trees are very old. 272 00:16:56,366 --> 00:16:58,300 They are traced back to the founding of the town 273 00:16:58,466 --> 00:17:02,066 of Córdoba, a hundred years ago. 274 00:17:02,233 --> 00:17:04,266 (Spanish) 275 00:17:04,433 --> 00:17:07,766 Arboleda could have ended up as just 276 00:17:07,933 --> 00:17:14,533 another coffee producing farm and nothing else. 277 00:17:14,666 --> 00:17:18,066 A cup of Arboleda coffee is one of perfection 278 00:17:18,233 --> 00:17:21,033 because this coffee is grown, 279 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,800 while protecting the environment and caring and 280 00:17:23,966 --> 00:17:27,700 loving the land and the soil. 281 00:17:27,833 --> 00:17:29,933 These old trees are pure Arabica coffee, 282 00:17:30,100 --> 00:17:35,433 which generally is conceded to be the best there is. 283 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:37,200 That's what they started with here and then they've 284 00:17:37,366 --> 00:17:38,900 branched into other varieties but this is the 285 00:17:39,033 --> 00:17:42,300 old scion the old original coffee tree from right here. 286 00:17:42,433 --> 00:17:45,366 (Spanish) 287 00:17:45,533 --> 00:17:48,100 Our coffee is produced with zero agro 288 00:17:48,266 --> 00:17:51,500 chemicals so that the natural micro organisms 289 00:17:51,633 --> 00:17:56,966 that live in this ecosystem are not harmed. 290 00:17:57,133 --> 00:17:59,700 One of the philosophies here at La Arboleda Coffee 291 00:17:59,866 --> 00:18:03,200 farm is to keep the old varieties. 292 00:18:03,366 --> 00:18:04,533 They've been here for so long, 293 00:18:04,666 --> 00:18:06,633 things have worked their way out and so they can 294 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:10,100 work organically or without chemicals because it's 295 00:18:10,266 --> 00:18:14,800 all part of a well-established coffee ecosystem. 296 00:18:14,933 --> 00:18:16,233 (Spanish) 297 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:18,766 We could use this here as a teaching 298 00:18:18,933 --> 00:18:21,600 tool so that other coffee producers would follow 299 00:18:21,766 --> 00:18:24,833 this example and perhaps see these kind of eco 300 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:33,000 friendly, organic farming as a source of national pride. 301 00:18:33,166 --> 00:18:34,900 We've formed an association of women coffee 302 00:18:35,066 --> 00:18:41,266 growers called the Córdoba Women's Coffee Association. 303 00:18:41,433 --> 00:18:47,766 We have recently created our own brand or women coffee. 304 00:18:47,933 --> 00:18:50,533 Just because you're using a sustainable form of 305 00:18:50,700 --> 00:18:52,700 coffee raising doesn't mean you can't use 306 00:18:52,833 --> 00:18:54,833 technology to your advantage. 307 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,866 With this plastic canopy here, 308 00:18:58,033 --> 00:19:00,400 they don't have to worry about the rain and they 309 00:19:00,533 --> 00:19:02,466 still get the advantage of whatever sun there is. 310 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:06,200 So in ten days they move all this coffee around and 311 00:19:06,366 --> 00:19:08,633 they have dry beans. 312 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:10,500 They don't have to worry about them getting wet 313 00:19:10,633 --> 00:19:13,466 from the often very heavy rain they get here. 314 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:17,066 It's a real good idea. 315 00:19:17,233 --> 00:19:18,666 (Spanish) 316 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:21,566 When coffee is ground, the natural, 317 00:19:21,733 --> 00:19:24,933 exquisite aroma is liberated and then we can 318 00:19:25,100 --> 00:19:27,233 brew it into a wondrous liquid cup of 319 00:19:27,366 --> 00:19:36,900 coffee. Coffee cultivation is my destiny, my happiness. 320 00:19:37,033 --> 00:19:38,866 This is what I do everyday, 321 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:44,800 I produce coffee. I love coffee. 322 00:19:46,500 --> 00:19:48,433 Coffee production isn't all work. 323 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:53,066 Fiestas are an important part of Paisa life. 324 00:19:57,633 --> 00:19:59,833 We're in the town Calarca, not far from Armenia in 325 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:01,800 the center of coffee country. 326 00:20:01,933 --> 00:20:03,166 Every year they have a parade, 327 00:20:03,333 --> 00:20:05,400 a celebration and the parade ends with the 328 00:20:05,533 --> 00:20:10,100 crowning of the coffee queen. 329 00:20:21,900 --> 00:20:25,066 Each department brings their beauty queen and 330 00:20:25,233 --> 00:20:30,266 their dances and music and theatre to show. 331 00:20:30,433 --> 00:20:32,000 So the judges decide on a combination or is 332 00:20:32,133 --> 00:20:34,133 it just the queen herself? 333 00:20:34,300 --> 00:20:35,433 No, they do decide on a combination, 334 00:20:35,566 --> 00:20:37,300 but most important is the queen, 335 00:20:37,466 --> 00:20:38,833 but the beauty of the queen is not 336 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:40,733 just the physical appearance. 337 00:20:40,900 --> 00:20:42,266 It comes with the beauty of whatever she brings 338 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:44,666 behind her, which is the comparsas and the 339 00:20:44,833 --> 00:20:48,466 happiness about it and the colors and what each 340 00:20:48,633 --> 00:20:52,433 represents from where they come from. 341 00:20:56,266 --> 00:21:00,300 That's the La Chapolera, it's a type of CamposinaColombiana. 342 00:21:00,433 --> 00:21:03,433 Her name comes from a butterfly, 343 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:07,100 known as Chapora, which migrates to the coffee 344 00:21:07,266 --> 00:21:11,933 farms during times of harvest. 345 00:21:13,366 --> 00:21:15,033 They come from all over the country, 346 00:21:15,166 --> 00:21:17,566 they're trying to show off their queen and make as 347 00:21:17,733 --> 00:21:19,900 much noise as possible and my guess is 348 00:21:20,066 --> 00:21:21,500 a little bribery involved as well. 349 00:21:21,633 --> 00:21:23,600 They all come together here, 350 00:21:23,766 --> 00:21:26,733 there's a lot of prestige in the making and their queen has to 351 00:21:26,900 --> 00:21:33,166 show that she has the stuff to be queen of the coffee festival. 352 00:21:34,366 --> 00:21:36,966 Tolima is coming up here, now this woman, 353 00:21:37,133 --> 00:21:39,466 I watched her from down below. 354 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:40,900 She's very light skinned, 355 00:21:41,033 --> 00:21:42,333 Yeah. 356 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:46,633 She's very active, but she can play the drums extremely well. 357 00:21:46,766 --> 00:21:47,966 Does that help? 358 00:21:48,100 --> 00:21:52,400 I think it helps, of course. 359 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:02,600 We have a representation of real folk arts here, folk dances. 360 00:22:02,733 --> 00:22:04,466 These are people coming from the countryside. 361 00:22:04,633 --> 00:22:08,500 There used to be people who did nothing but carry other people. 362 00:22:08,633 --> 00:22:11,933 We see them here and then we see the folk, 363 00:22:12,100 --> 00:22:14,466 the dresses of women from the country side, 364 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:18,366 who are really working in the fields. 365 00:22:23,166 --> 00:22:24,833 There's got to be an excuse for a parade, 366 00:22:24,966 --> 00:22:27,500 but this kind is a little bit different one, in it's 367 00:22:27,666 --> 00:22:32,400 sort of has an international aspect to a very local product. 368 00:22:32,566 --> 00:22:34,600 As far as I know, every coffee producing country 369 00:22:34,766 --> 00:22:37,700 has a celebration to celebrate the product and 370 00:22:37,866 --> 00:22:41,300 it's so much fun because they're talking about 371 00:22:41,433 --> 00:22:43,466 coffee, but they're also celebrating their regional 372 00:22:43,633 --> 00:22:46,766 community and their folklore. 373 00:22:46,933 --> 00:22:50,833 The natural history of the place that they're involved in. 374 00:22:54,966 --> 00:22:56,533 Oh my gosh, here comes the devil. 375 00:22:56,666 --> 00:22:57,766 Oh my gosh. 376 00:22:57,933 --> 00:23:00,533 That's got to be very hot to carry that costume. 377 00:23:00,666 --> 00:23:02,366 It seems to me, that these people are from Chocó, 378 00:23:02,533 --> 00:23:04,000 which is the Pacific. 379 00:23:04,166 --> 00:23:08,133 There's a lot of former slaves that have settled in that 380 00:23:08,300 --> 00:23:11,400 area so there's got to be a big African influence in there. 381 00:23:11,566 --> 00:23:14,133 Right, the Chocó region is where the slaves 382 00:23:14,266 --> 00:23:18,866 fled to in the 1800's. 383 00:23:19,033 --> 00:23:20,966 There's a lot of themes of death in here of fantastic 384 00:23:21,100 --> 00:23:25,733 conceptions that are otherworldly. 385 00:23:25,900 --> 00:23:28,366 Right and conceptions about nature and the spirit. 386 00:23:28,500 --> 00:23:33,533 That's very important. 387 00:23:34,866 --> 00:23:37,700 They have a lot of talented acrobatic, stilt walkers. 388 00:23:37,833 --> 00:23:40,300 Yes. 389 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:49,566 We know we are in Colombia. 390 00:23:49,700 --> 00:23:54,166 It couldn't be any other Spanish speaking country. 391 00:23:55,400 --> 00:24:01,133 There's an exhilaration that is only possible in this country. 392 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:04,866 The National Coffee festival has been 393 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:11,833 celebrated in Calarca, every year since 1960. 394 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:14,500 The floats, in which the candidates are standing, 395 00:24:14,633 --> 00:24:17,566 are designed specifically for the event by local 396 00:24:17,733 --> 00:24:22,800 artists. Each candidate represents Colombia's 397 00:24:22,933 --> 00:24:28,366 cultural diversity, mainly in terms of dance and music. 398 00:24:28,533 --> 00:24:30,900 The winner of the pageant represents Colombia 399 00:24:31,033 --> 00:24:35,533 in the international coffee pageant. 400 00:24:45,566 --> 00:24:48,266 Coffee is native to Ethiopia, 401 00:24:48,433 --> 00:24:51,566 but because of its special growing conditions, Colombia 402 00:24:51,733 --> 00:24:55,300 has become the best-known international exporter. 403 00:24:55,433 --> 00:24:57,933 Here, coffee has produced a beverage, 404 00:24:58,100 --> 00:25:05,800 a culture, and a way of life. 405 00:25:07,066 --> 00:25:09,066 It has been our nation's greatest physical barrier. 406 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:12,333 Its looming presence struck fear into the 407 00:25:12,466 --> 00:25:14,733 hearts of men and women. 408 00:25:14,900 --> 00:25:19,233 It caused our most famous case of cannibalism. 409 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,033 It produced the world's richest gold mines. 410 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:26,200 It was the cause of civil war battles. 411 00:25:26,366 --> 00:25:30,033 It's the Sierra Nevada. 412 00:25:30,166 --> 00:25:35,700 Join us next time In the Americas , with me, David Yetman. 413 00:25:36,700 --> 00:25:38,733 My friend Nicholas is what we might call a coffee 414 00:25:38,900 --> 00:25:41,866 missionary from Armenia. He is unusual. 415 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:45,466 (Spanish) 416 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:48,100 So he has the traveling coffee box, 417 00:25:48,300 --> 00:25:50,500 we've got 500 of these boxes going around the 418 00:25:50,633 --> 00:25:54,233 world to tell the world how great coffee is. 419 00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:56,300 Every process of the coffee from the grinding 420 00:25:56,433 --> 00:25:58,000 it, to the heating of the water, 421 00:25:58,133 --> 00:25:59,633 to the making of the coffee, 422 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:02,300 to the drinking it is contained in this little box.