Many of the islands of Indonesia were formed by volcanoes and still benefit from soil that's rich in volcanic ash and ideal for growing coffee. It's no wonder that some of the world’s most famous coffees are grown on the islands of the Malay Archipelago of Indonesia: Sumatra, Sulawesi and Java.

Approximately 15 percent of all the coffee grown in Indonesia is Arabica. Sumatra is the second-largest island in the Republic of Indonesia. Sumatra Mandheling coffee is grown on the lofty volcanic slopes of Mount Leuser near the port of Padang, in the Batak region of west-central Sumatra. “Mandailing,” spelled here correctly, is technically an ethnic group in Indonesia, not a region, as is Batak.

Coffee trees were originally brought to Indonesia in the early 19th century by the Dutch, who sought to break the world-wide Arabic monopoly on the cultivation of coffee. Within a few years, Indonesian coffee dominated the world’s coffee market. Yet by the end of the century disease had completely destroyed the crop. Coffee trees were successfully replanted and quickly gained a large share of the world market until the plantations were ravaged again during World WarII.

Giling Basah, the unique method used in the production of Sumatran coffees, results in a very full body with a concentrated flavor, garnished with herbal nuances and a spicy finish. It involves hulling the parchment off the bean at roughly 50 percent moisture content (compared to 10 to 12 percent moisture, in most other regions). This unique process results in Sumatra's trademark flavor profile (low acidity, richness that lingers on the back of the palate, and a chocolate finish) and gives the green beans their signature color. The parchment is removed while the moisture is high through the wet-hulling process (giling basah) and then the exposed bean is dried to a moisture percentage acceptable for export. This Indonesian processing method gives the bean its unique colour and the hallmark Indonesian profile.

Sumatra Gayo Ratawali Triple Pick G1 is sourced from family-owned farms organized around the northern tip of the island of Sumatra, in the central district of Aceh province. This region of Indonesia is also referred to as the Gayo land because the coffee farmers are from the Gayonese ethnic group. The formation of Ratawali village dated back to 1950's pioneered by Tengku Ibrahim and his family. They developed a new farmland in Ratawali valley literally by hand and painstakingly converted the rainforest into a sustainable and organic cultivation area for coffee. The family now owned about 40 hectares of coffee farm, whilst other smallholders have planted approximately 20,000 hectares. We recommend espresso roast, city+ or full city to bring out full potential of this delicious origin.

**Available to purchase in jute bags (60kg). Please send through email to sales@ilovecoffeemarket.com for more info on bulk orders. 

COFFEE PROFILE

Country: Indonesia

Region: Sumatra - Aceh - Gayo Highlands

Grower: Ratawali smallholders

Harvest: Feb - April, September - November

Altitude: 1500 m.

Species: Arabica

Varietal: Typica

Screen Size: 17+

Process: Hand Triple Pick (Wet Hulled)

Cupping Score: 84 pts

The Cup: Citrus, grapefruit, cocoa, dark chocolate, heavy body (Great for espresso!)

Moisture Level: 10.2%

Certification: Rain Forest Alliance Certified