Some coffees are fruity, and then there are coffees that feel almost like a dessert. This natural lot from Peñas Blancas in Colombia is firmly in the second camp, bringing together tropical fruit, delicate florals, and a sweetness that reminds us of Turkish delight. It’s expressive without being overwhelming, balancing the richness of ripe mango and passionfruit with a bright mandarin-like acidity that keeps every sip feeling fresh.

Peñas Blancas is a coffee project in Acevedo, Huila, led by Colombian producers Néstor Lasso and Jhoan Vergara. Rather than focusing only on their own production, they’ve built a processing centre that gives surrounding smallholder farmers access to better infrastructure, technical knowledge, and more precise processing methods. The idea is simple: bring together good coffee and careful processing to create something that stands out in the cup.

This lot uses Castillo and Caturra varieties, grown at elevations between 1,600 and 1,900 metres above sea level. It’s naturally processed, meaning the cherries are dried with the fruit still intact around the beans. This allows the coffee to develop a deeper fruit sweetness and a more rounded flavour profile. With careful control of fermentation and drying, that fruitiness can become wonderfully expressive while retaining clarity, rather than turning into the heavier, fermented character sometimes associated with naturals.

The result is a cup bursting with passionfruit and ripe mango, layered with a delicate rose-like floral character. The sweetness is particularly distinctive, bringing to mind Turkish delight, while a lively mandarin acidity cuts through the richness and keeps everything in balance. With a medium body and balanced acidity, this is a coffee that feels both indulgent and refreshing. A little tropical, a little floral, and beautifully sweet — the kind of cup that makes you stop for a moment and wonder how coffee can taste this good.