Colombia, Siera Nevada - Honey Typica

Oliverio Villafaña is from Nabusimake in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the centre of the Arhuaco people. The Arhuaco, along with the Kankuamo, Kogui and Wiwa, hold a cultural tradition recognised by UNESCO for its role in protecting both land and identity. Knowledge is passed down through generations, guided by a worldview in which caring for the environment is central to community life.

Oliverio works with around sixty families, each farming small plots where coffee grows alongside the crops that sustain daily living. Coffee is their main source of income, and it is grown with an understanding of the land that is rooted in ancestral practice rather than external instruction.

With a background in trade and international business, Oliverio helps the community navigate the complexities of selling and exporting their coffee while ensuring cultural values remain intact. This marks the first time their coffee has been exported to Europe, allowing more value and decision-making to stay in Nabusimake.