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Colombian products that have a certificate of origin
The country currently has a variety of Colombian products that carry the Designation of Origin seal, which distinguishes the quality and origin of food, handicrafts, and typical manufactured goods.
Foods such as Colombian coffee, exotic fruits like cholupa, and typical items such as the Aguadeño hat and ceramics are some of the products from Colombia’s industry that represent Colombian culture. At the same time, they have a unique stamp called Denomination of Origin. What is it about?
What is a Denomination of Origin?
It is a certificate of origin granted to certain Colombian products, indicating the region of the country. Moreover, it is a stamp with very special meaning, as it involves the traditional production practices of the people from that geographic area, a characteristic that distinguishes these products from others.
Who is responsible for granting it to Colombian products?
The only entity authorized to grant the Denomination of Origin within Colombian industry is the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce. To obtain it, Colombian companies engaged in the extraction, production, or manufacturing of products within a specific geographic area must apply to this government body. Additionally, the stamp is valid for 10 years and can be renewed for equal periods.
Who can use this stamp?
It is important to clarify that the use of this stamp is exclusively reserved for producers, manufacturers, and artisans whose production is located in the area indicated by the certificate of origin. Likewise, those who applied for the declaration of protection of the Denomination of Origin and individuals who market the protected products and need to use the stamp.
What is the purpose of the Denomination of Origin?
Through this certificate of origin, the collective effort of local producers to maintain the recognized qualities of products from their region is acknowledged. It also guarantees product quality and prevents counterfeiting of Colombian products. For the consumer, the stamp denotes origin, which is why it is crucial to protect it in order to preserve the product’s reputation within Colombian industry and abroad.
How can this certificate of origin be identified?
Each Colombian product that has received the Denomination of Origin carries special labeling. In Europe, the stamp is known as Protected Denomination of Origin.
What Denomination of Origin stamps exist in Colombia?
A total of 29 Colombian products carry this stamp. Among them are:
1. Coffee
The Café de Colombia stamp has a Denomination of Origin recognized nationwide, along with six sub-denominations based on coffee-growing regions: Nariño, Cauca, Huila, Tolima, Santander, and Sierra Nevada. Coffee from Nariño is grown in the department of Nariño.
The high altitude and low temperatures in the region result in a coffee characterized by high acidity, sweet notes, a clean cup, medium body, and a strong aroma. Coffee from Cauca, produced in the department of the same name, is known for its consistency, medium body, high acidity, and strong caramel-like aroma. Its fragrance fills any room and entices anyone to enjoy a cup.
2. The cholupa from Huila
This native fruit from the north of this department, with its orange-yellow skin and sweet-tart flavor, is one of the Colombian products that holds this stamp.
3. The achira biscuit from Huila
This all-natural product is made from achira starch and fresh curd cheese, known for its crispness and high nutritional value. It has held the Denomination of Origin since 2012.
4. Cheese from Caquetá
The certification covers traditional dairy products made in this department, including quesillo, double cream cheese, and industrial salted cheese chunks.
5. Paipa Cheese
Originating from the town of Paipa in Boyacá, this cheese holds a certificate of origin that supports the artisanal production of semi-mature cheeses with a mild sour and bitter taste, rancid aroma, and pale yellow color.
Other foods
Rice from the Meseta de Ibagué, bocadillo veleño, and black crab from the Islands of San Andrés and Providencia are other recognized Colombian products.
Flowers from Colombia
Denomination of Origin certifications also include the Colombian carnation, Colombian rose, and Colombian chrysanthemum—products of the Colombian floriculture industry renowned worldwide for their quality and beauty.
Some Colombian handicrafts
Guacamayas coiled basketry is typical of the Boyacá region of Guacamayas, crafted using techniques inherited from the Lache indigenous people. Each certified item is made from straw coils wrapped in fique threads.
The fibers are dyed with vegetable dyes or industrial anilines. Also, San Jacinto weaving is represented by the woven products from the town of San Jacinto, Bolívar. These include hammocks, napkins, placemats, and tablecloths.
The Denomination of Origin for Wayúu indigenous weaving includes products made by this indigenous community from the department of La Guajira. Popular products include mochilas, hammocks, and chinchorros, known for their geometric designs (called Kanáas) and vibrant colors. The Aguadeño hat stamp certifies hats made in the town of Aguadas, Caldas.
This product is woven entirely from fibers of the iraca palm, and its finishing process can take three to four weeks. Hats from Sandoná also carry the Denomination of Origin, made from iraca palm fibers.
Similarly, the Suaza hat, made in Suaza (Huila), is handwoven from iraca palm fibers, featuring a tight, fine weave. Ráquira’s artisanal ceramics certify the handicrafts from this Boyacá town. These items are made from clay, sand, and mineral coal extracted locally, including anthropomorphic figures, crockery, cooking utensils, flowerpots, and decorative ceramics.
The Denomination of Origin for Ceramics from Carmen de Viboral includes ceramic tableware and decorative items handmade in this Antioquian town, world-renowned for their hand-painted decorations. The Mopa Mopa varnish from Pasto is used in handicrafts from the department of Nariño.
Its base resin is extracted from the jungles of Putumayo and transformed into colored sheets using natural dyes. These sheets are used to cover wooden items like trays, boxes, spoons, pencil holders, chairs, and tables. Other recognized crafts include Zenú weaving (from caña flecha), famously seen in the iconic "sombrero vueltiao", a national symbol for Colombians.
Likewise, black pottery and black earthenware from La Chamba. Each of these Colombian products is crafted by hands that embody the passion, talent, and traditions of a diverse country. Discover them yourself and share with the world a unique origin!
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