Tactile maps are accessible for visually impaired people. Therefore, studies on the use of graphic variables in tactile cartography are necessary. A search for papers related to the keyword "tactile map" was conducted in the Scopus database and in the annals of the International Cartographic Conference, between the years 2009 and 2019, with the objective of identifying in the international literature the topics concerning to graphic variables, especially those related to color code systems. Among the full manuscripts found in the Scopus and International Cartographic Association databases, the countries with the largest number of publications in the tactile cartography field were Brazil, United States, Greece, Spain and Germany. The main topics related to tactile maps in the last 10 years were: visual impairment, navigation and wayfinding, perception, universal design, among others. Some of the papers suggest the representation of colors for colorblind people, but there is a gap regarding the use of color codes as graphic variables on tactile maps.