28 Colombian Brands You Must Know When Visiting Colombia

Last updated on February 14th, 2023 at 01:53 pm

Dear reader

My name is Frank and I run a travel agency in Bogota, Colombia. Have fun while reading!

If you even need more inspiration, check out also are blog with the greatest hotels in Colombia and our city guides.

Colombian brands and articles

Colombia is not only a fantastic travel destination, but also an agricultural state. In this fertile country, all plants grow wild, 365 days a year.

No wonder that Colombia produces very interesting agricultural products. In addition to agriculture, other industrial sectors sell exciting products. The following is an excursion through the Colombian product landscape and its brands.

Alpina, dairy products

Alpina is the milk king of Colombia, so to speak. The products can be found all over Colombia. The assortment ranges from milk to cheese and yogurt to baby food.

However, the cheese generally tastes like plastic. The only exceptions are the Tilsiter with herbs and the fondue. The rest is an insult to the discerning palate. I particularly advise against Mozzarella and Parmesan, which in my opinion has nothing to do with cheese.

The yogurts are a little thin, but they have very good taste. Here I recommend the Greek yogurt.

Taken from: https://www.alpina.com

Amor Perfecto, coffee

The idea of building this brand came from a trip to London in 1992. Luis Fernando Vélez founded Amor Perfecto after his return.

He was also the first Colombian participant in a world championship for baristas and was instrumental in getting good coffee in Bogota these days.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/CafeAmorPerfecto

Artesanias de Colombia, handicrafts

Artesanias de Colombia was founded in Bogota in 1964. The company’s goal is to promote handicrafts and preserve cultural heritage.

The products can be found in many shops around Colombia. Prices aren’t the cheapest on the market, but the company has a social purpose.

Taken from: https://artesaniasdecolombia.com.co/

Arturo Calle, fashion

Arturo Calle’s shops can be found throughout Colombia and in any major mall. Its stores are present at around 80 locations. Fashion is not the most expensive, but you are considered well-dressed in your products.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/arturocalleoficial

Avianca, Airline

Avianca is considered the national airline and has the most connections in the country. During the corona crisis, however, criticism came up because the owners are foreigners and profits seem to be taxed in Panama.

The airline flies nationally and internationally and maintains a good fleet of aircrafts. However, the service is not the best in the world.

If you want to fly cheap in Colombia, you should check the Avianca website regularly, as there are always promotions.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/AviancaGlobal

Bancolombia, financial institution

Bancolombia is probably the most popular bank in Colombia and of course, also identifies by its name with Colombia. You can see the three-color logo across the country. The bank has over 14 million customers.

When I immigrated to Colombia, I opened an account with Bancolombia. Unfortunately, I have not had a good experience with this financial institution. In my opinion, it is the most incompetent bank with the most incompetent employees on the continent.

Taken from: https://www.grupobancolombia.com/personas

BBC, beer

The Bogota Beer Company is often seen in Bogota. Everyone knows the logo with the old beer truck here. BBC pubs are arguably the city’s most visited.

The brewed beer is very tasty and it is best to order one or more pitchers together with friends. Anyone who is staying here in Colombia during a national soccer game should urgently go to one of these pubs and early enough.

Taken from: https://www.bbccerveceria.com

Boots & Bags, fashion

This brand has an English name and although Colombians barely speak English, this brand is extremely successful. As the name suggests, boots and bags are sold. However, the range generally includes leather goods.

You can see the shops from afar because the yellow lettering on the red background is relatively striking. The company has been in business for over 45 years and is headquartered in La Candelaria, Bogota.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/BootsNBags

Café Quindio, coffee

As the name suggests, it is about coffee from the Quindio region, which is part of the coffee triangle. You can find coffee in Bogota and you can buy the coffee in various supermarkets and even on Amazon.

Café Quindio does not grow coffee himself, but specializes in roasting and now operates 17 sales shops at different locations.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/tucafequindio

Colombiana, sweet drink

Colombiana is in Colombia what the Inca Cola in Peru. Colombiana is made by Postobon and is one of the most popular sodas in Colombia.

However, Colombiana is so sweet that I only tried one sip of it and have since renounced the sweet drink. Colombians also mix the drink with beer and then call it “Refajo”.

Taken from: https://www.postobon.com

Colombina, food

Colombina produces food and sweets and can also be found in every supermarket. The only product that I’ve personally tested so far is the ketchup. This is pretty good.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/ColombinaOficial

Corona, ceramics

This company is not a virus producer. The company was founded in 1881 and today sells bathroom, household, and tableware products.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/coronamejoratuvida

Crepes & Waffles, restaurant

The Crepes & Waffles chain is a Colombian institution and every traveler should visit one of these restaurants. You can find them in cities in the best locations.

The menu mainly consists of crêpes in several variations and various fillings. The company has made a name for itself above all for its social commitment and is known for hiring single mothers and women in need.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/CrepesyWafflesOficial

Ecopetrol, raw materials

Ecopetrol is the state oil company and is responsible for a large part of the state budget. Travelers may see the logo, which consists of a green iguana.

The company was founded in 1921 and employs around 10,000 people.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/EcopetrolOficial

Exito, supermarket

The supermarket chain Exito is present all over the country and the large, round, and yellow logo with the black lettering in the middle has a high recognition value.

The company was founded in Medellin in 1949 and employs around 40,000 people.

Taken from: https://www.exito.com

Grupo Bavaria, brewery

Grupo Bavaria or Bayern Group translated into German, is the largest beer producer in Colombia. The company was founded in 1876 by Leo Siegfried and Emil Kopp Koppel.

The most popular types of beer found everywhere in Colombia are:

Águila
Brava
Club Colombia
Pilsen
Póker

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/amigosBAVARIA/

HATSU tea, drinks

Hatsu was born in Medellin in 2010. The name means ‘beginning’ in Japanese. Today the colored bottles of tea are not only available in Colombia but in several countries.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/HatsuOfficial/

Juan Valdez, coffee

The farmer with the donkey, packed with coffee bags. The Juan Valdez logo is present all over the world today.

Juan Valdez offers a similar atmosphere to Starbucks and the coffees can be found almost everywhere in Colombia.

However, Juan Valdez is expensive for Colombian standards and the offer is aimed at the middle class and higher earners.

Taken from: https://www.juanvaldezcafe.com/es-co/

Justo y Bueno, discounter

The supermarket chain has over 1,000 stores in Colombia and offers cheap groceries.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/mercaderiajustoybueno

New Stetic, dental products

New Stetic was founded in 1954 by Francisco Vélez Gómez. Dental implants were initially produced. Today, the company sells a variety of products related to oral hygiene at home and abroad.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/newstetic

Nutresa Group, food

The most famous product of the Nutresa group is probably the Tosh cracker, which can be found in every grocery store.

However, the company also produces chocolate, coffee, and pasta among other products.

Taken from: https://gruponutresa.com

Postobon

Postobon is not just a company, there are also products that are named after the company. Postobon Manzana is probably the best known. This soda is incredibly sweet, not to my liking. However, you can find it everywhere.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/Postobon

Ramo, bakery

Ramo is known in Colombia for its sweet pastries and you can find the products everywhere. Chocoramo is a piece of cake covered with chocolate and is probably the company’s most popular product.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/empresa.ramo.96

Rappi, delivery service

Rappi was founded in 2015 and took not only Colombia but South America by storm. The delivery service is omnipresent today.

The company started with $ 2 million. SoftBank invested around $ 1 billion in 2019. You can have almost everything delivered to your home via the app or website.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/RappiColombia

Satena, airline

Satena is the true Colombian national airline and was founded in 1962. Satena flies to many destinations that other commercial airlines miss. Many Satena planes are still propellers, but you need those to land in Bahia Solano, for example, where the runway seems to be only 20 meters long.

The pilots come mostly or exclusively from the Air Force. If you get into an air fight during the flight, you are in good hands.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/aerolineasatena

Tennis, clothing

The Tennis brand was founded in Medellin over 40 years ago. Today you can find their clothing stores in all regions of Colombia.

Leisure fashion is sold.

Taken from: https://www.facebook.com/Tenniscomco

Tostao, coffee

When I came to Colombia in 2015, there was no Tostao. In the coming years, however, the coffee flooded Bogota and then other parts of Colombia. Sometimes you can find Tostaos less than 50 meters apart.

Tostao is the Colombian concept of Starbucks. The set-up and the offer were simplified and initially, the prices were super cheap. Long lines formed in front of Tostao’s everywhere.

Prices have risen since then, but the expansion continues.

Taken from: https://tostao.com

Unique condom

The brand was even mentioned in Forbes and the products were referred to as luxury condoms. The condoms are not made of gold or gemstones, but the addition of latex is missing.

This is an innovative product for all allergy sufferers who do not tolerate latex in general and even less at their best. Is it a coincidence that this product comes from Colombia? I can only say, have fun with sex!

Taken from: https://uniquecondom.com

Colombia Travel Guides

To test all of these products, I recommend an immediate trip to Colombia. Appropriate guidance can be found below.

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