Organic Ethiopian Harrar

Organic Ethiopian Harrar

Harrar lingers on our palates with smooth, syrupy, dark chocolate flavors accompanied by those sweet blueberry notes found only in a good Harrar. The caramel, floral, and blueberry taste combination is unmistakably distinct and wonderfully enjoyable.

Hailing from the city of Harerge in the eastern part of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Longberry is the country's best-known bean. Grown on small farms using some traditional cultivation methods, the coffee thrives in a climate that offers two rain periods; a heavy season (June through September) and a light season (January through February). The coffee is shade grown in stages, harvested and dry processed using the sun.

Historically, Ethiopia is considered to be the birthplace of coffee. One legend says that a goat herder was watching his flock energetically dance in the fields after eating off a particular bush. When the curious hearder tried the berries himself, he discovered coffee.

Founded in 1999, OCFCU (Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union) is the largest Fair Trade coffee producer in Ethiopia. The venture started when small cooperatives united to export coffee directly to implementation of envirronmentally-sound practices, use of organic techiques and efforts to practice social justice have greatly benefited their communities. Fair Trade has also helped them to build schools, promote education and improve infrastructure.