Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/612330
22 STiR tea & coffee industry international / Issue 6, 2015 (December/January) Colombia Must-try Coffee Tour Booking.com named Salento, Colombia as a must-try place in its Foodie's Guide to the Globe. According to a press release an- nouncing the guide, the "foodie hotspots" were selected after a review of the strength of "…traveler endorse- ments on Booking.com's Destination Finder for a particular food experience (i.e. fish & chips) compared to other kinds of endorsements the destination receives overall (i.e. shopping, museums, nightlife)." Colombia's coffee capital was highly rated for offering the full coffee experience, from exploring where it is grown to sipping endless cups of freshly brewed goodness. "The exploration of food as the purpose of traveling is growing fast and food commentary is prevalent in the accommodation reviews submitted by Booking.com guests on our website," says Pepijn Rijvers, chief marketing officer. Honduras New Coffee Route Announced The Honduran Institute of Tourism (IHT) and the Honduran Coffee Institute (IHCAFE) created a map for tourists to use to explore coffee in Honduras. This is the latest joint initiative from the two organizations. The "Coffee Route" encompasses the country's six coffee-growing regions––Copan, Opalaca, Montecillos, Comayagua, Agalta, and El Paraiso–each with distinct geographic and bioclimatic conditions. "The combination of tourism and coffee with the launch of the 'Coffee Route' allows us to offer the best of Honduras to both domestic and international tourists. It also serves to diversify income sources and create new opportunities for our coffee farmers," said Rene Leon Gomez, general manager of the Honduran Coffee Institute (IHCAFE). IHT and IHCAFE have collaborated since 2013 to develop coffee plantations, equipping them with the necessary infrastructure and training to support visitors to the sites. The investment and development is an important economic driver for the region. Learn more: www.honduras.travel Italy New Coffee Collaboration Sandalj Trading Company presented a Colombian coffee grown and processed exclusively by women at HOST 2015 in Milan, Italy. This product represents a collaboration between the Trieste-based coffee importer and the Asociación de Mujeres Cafeteras del Cauca of the Cauca region of Colombia. The hand- picked castillo and colombia cherries are grown in full-sun at an altitude of 1,820 meters above sea level, then washed and dried in the sun. Head of quality at Sandalj, Edy Bieker described the coffee: "With captivating sweetness, this espresso cup offers introductory aromas of red berries tinged with orange marmalade and cocoa. These are followed by nuances of caramel and almonds that then develop into a surpris- ing aftertaste of pineapple in syrup." Proceeds from purchasing this coffee go towards improving living conditions and Salento, Colombia, foodie hotspot training on agricultural techniques to increase product quality through time. Learn more: www.sandalj.com RUSSIA Rent a roaster in Moscow If you live in Moscow and have ambi- tions to roast coffee for your shop, or just want to experiment on a small scale, you can bring your green coffee to Olga Melik–Karakozova and rent a roaster. Her concept is simply named "Smart Roaster." Located in a Moscow train warehouse she provides everything you need. You can brand it, sell it, or just enjoy a good cup while learning a thing or two about the process. Smart Roaster rentals