In short: Bitaco / La Cumbre is a tea estate in Yumbo, Colombia, operated by Agricola Himalaya S.A. and certified by the Ethical Tea Partnership.
Bitaco / La Cumbre is a tea estate located in Yumbo, Colombia, at an elevation of 990 metres. The estate is operated by Agricola Himalaya S.A. and holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership. Production includes both black and green teas, though no buyers are currently recorded in public supply-chain data.
Terroir & Climate
At 990 metres and positioned at 3.5° north of the equator, Bitaco / La Cumbre occupies a tropical mid-elevation environment where the proximity to the equator typically provides consistent daylight hours throughout the year. Estates at this latitude and altitude often experience minimal seasonal temperature variation, though diurnal swings between day and night can be pronounced in Andean foothills. Such conditions generally encourage steady vegetative growth without the distinct dormancy periods common in temperate tea regions.
The Yumbo area, situated in Colombia's Valle del Cauca department, tends to receive reliable rainfall distributed across much of the year, a pattern characteristic of equatorial climates in the northern Andes. Mid-elevations in this region often benefit from cloud cover and moderate temperatures that can slow leaf maturation, typically yielding a balance between the briskness found at higher altitudes and the body associated with warmer lowland gardens. Soils in volcanic zones of western Colombia are generally fertile, though specific soil composition at this estate is not documented.
Tea Produced
Bitaco / La Cumbre produces both black and green teas. Colombian teas from mid-elevations such as this often exhibit a clean, approachable character; black teas from estates in this altitude band tend toward medium body with moderate astringency, while greens typically show a fresh, vegetal quality. The equatorial growing conditions generally support year-round harvests, which can yield consistent if not highly complex cup profiles. Without specific processing or cultivar data, it is difficult to predict the precise sensory signatures of teas from this estate, though the elevation and latitude suggest a style that balances brightness with body.
Operator
Agricola Himalaya S.A. is the operating company behind Bitaco / La Cumbre. No other estates operated by this company are currently recorded in the directory, and public information about the firm's wider portfolio or commercial history is limited.
Certifications & Ethics
The estate holds certification from the Ethical Tea Partnership, an industry body that audits labour conditions, environmental practices, and social standards across tea supply chains. For buyers, this certification provides third-party assurance that the estate has undergone assessments covering worker welfare, chemical use, and community engagement. For workers, membership in the Ethical Tea Partnership typically signals adherence to standards on wages, housing, health and safety, and the right to collective representation, though the specific outcomes of audits at this estate are not publicly detailed.
Location & Neighbouring Estates
Bitaco / La Cumbre lies at 3.4593, -76.5338 in Yumbo, Colombia. Its 990 m elevation is the highest of 1 estates we map in Colombia. The nearest estates in the TeaTrade directory, measured point-to-point from these coordinates, are:
- Tabay\u00a0Tea Factory And Plantations — 4090 km away · Jardín América
- Las Marias North — 4116 km away · Aristóbulo del Valle
- Capell — 4119 km away · RN14
- Casa Fuentes — 4120 km away · Campo Grande
- Ariel — 4124 km away · Route 14 / Km 962 / Dos de Mayo () Misiones
Observed Climate at Bitaco / La Cumbre (2025)
ERA5 reanalysis data modelled for Bitaco / La Cumbre’s coordinates recorded 2,878 mm of precipitation across calendar year 2025. The wettest month was November (343 mm) and the driest was July (104 mm). Daytime highs averaged 27.0 °C and overnight lows 18.9 °C over the year; September was the warmest month and February the coolest.
| Metric | 2025 value |
|---|---|
| Annual precipitation | 2,878 mm |
| Wettest month | November (343 mm) |
| Driest month | July (104 mm) |
| Mean daily high | 27.0 °C |
| Mean overnight low | 18.9 °C |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bitaco / La Cumbre located?
Bitaco / La Cumbre is in Yumbo, Colombia, at coordinates 3.4593, -76.5338, at an elevation of about 990 metres.
Who operates Bitaco / La Cumbre?
Bitaco / La Cumbre is operated by Agricola Himalaya S.A., according to public supply-chain records.
What type of tea does Bitaco / La Cumbre produce?
Bitaco / La Cumbre is recorded as producing black and green tea.
What certifications does Bitaco / La Cumbre hold?
Bitaco / La Cumbre is recorded as holding the following certification(s): Ethical Tea Partnership.
How much rain does Bitaco / La Cumbre receive?
ERA5 reanalysis data for the estate's coordinates recorded 2,878 mm of precipitation in 2025, peaking in November (343 mm).
Data sources: public supply-chain disclosures (Ethical Tea Partnership member lists, Rainforest Alliance certificate holders and retailer supplier disclosures); climate figures are ERA5 reanalysis modelled for the estate’s coordinates via Open-Meteo (calendar year 2025); coordinates and elevations from geocoded records. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].
