Floripondio

Finca Floripondio is one of the more recent farms to be planted near Samaipata in Santa Cruz by the Rodriguez family. They've been experimenting with growing coffee in a region that's not at all known for coffee production, and they've been getting amazing results!

The farm was planted in 2014, sits at an altitude of 1,710 metres above sea level and has 47.29 hectares of coffee-producing land.

Floripondio is the ideal location for experimenting with different coffee varietals. This is due to its high altitude, a tropical microclimate characterised by high humidity and – at times – cool temperatures, and a distinct soil profile.

They've planted over 50 different varietals on the farm to date, and they hope to discover which varietals are best suited to the land and this particular latitude and altitude. They've kept the original lemon and tangerine trees on the farm to separate the different coffee varietals, and they sell the fruit from the trees at the local markets.

Floripondio gets its name from the Floripondio trees (commonly known as 'Angel's Trumpets' in English) that are native to the area and grow on the farm. The flower is thought to possess some hallucinogenic properties, and legend has it that you start dreaming as soon as you lay down beneath a Floripondio tree! This is apt, because the natural scenery at Floripondio is breathtakingly beautiful and can at times seem like something out of a dream.

• Country: Bolivia
• Department: Santa Cruz
• Province: Florida
• Municipality: Samaipata
• Farm: Floripondio
• Altitude: 1,710 m.a.s.l.
• Coffee growing area: 47.29 hectares
• Owners: Rodriguez family
• Varietal: Caturra
• Process: Washed