Why is Yemeni coffee the finest in the world?
Some wonder why coffee lovers love Yemeni coffee, about the unique sensation they experience with every sip, about the depth and authenticity of its flavors, and why Yemeni coffee has dazzled the world. How has Yemeni coffee always dominated the scene and captivated the senses of its lovers? How has it remained so strong and distinctive in its flavors? Yemeni coffee is a rich heritage bearing within its fruits a renewed authenticity.
There are many reasons why Yemeni coffee is ranked first, the first choice for every coffee lover, and a symbol of refined taste:
- Traditional Yemeni coffee farming:
Yemeni farmers have maintained traditional cultivation methods to preserve the deep flavor of Yemeni coffee. In the highlands of Yemen, where Yemeni coffee beans are grown, farmers begin by selecting the finest beans from the previous season. These beans are planted by hand in small clay basins, away from chemical fertilizers and artificial stimulants. They grow on their own without any unusual intervention. Farmers monitor these seedlings daily until they reach a height of 50 cm. They are then carefully transported to the towering mountains and planted on dirt terraces that have existed since the time of their ancestors. The trees are watered by rainwater and grow slowly over the mountains without any artificial intervention. They begin to produce their first fruits after three to four years.
Next comes the harvesting task. No fruit is picked until it is fully ripe and has turned a deep red. It is collected by hand so that the ripe fruit does not mix with the others. After that, the fruit is spread out in the shade of the farmers' houses and left to dry in the sun. It is moved daily to dry on all sides.
From seed selection to harvesting, no artificial methods are used. This is why Yemeni coffee is so high quality and unavailable in commercial quantities. Farmers treat their coffee trees as part of their family, taking great care of them because they are a symbol of their culture and the legacy of their ancestors.
- The diversity of hints and flavors of Yemeni coffee:
Yemeni coffee is distinguished by its unique flavors that are not found in other types of coffee. These distinctive flavors include cinnamon, cloves, chocolate, and dried fruits. Due to the geographical diversity in Yemen, the flavors vary, as each region has a flavor different from the flavor of the next. For example, the flavor of Haraz coffee is characterized by a fruity flavor, while Khawlan coffee is characterized by the traditional flavor of Arabic coffee. This diversity in flavors has made Yemeni coffee the finest for the tastes of coffee lovers.
- Height of agricultural areas:
Yemeni coffee is grown in very high mountainous areas, ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 meters above sea level. Yemen is considered one of the highest agricultural environments. This altitude produces coffee with a unique flavor. The reason for this is that the seeds ripen slowly on the mountains due to the low temperatures, which allows the coffee beans to absorb nutrients from the soil. The mountainous heights are also cold and dry, and these conditions are not suitable for many insects. This reduces the use of chemical pesticides and preserves the purity and quality of the beans. The weather conditions on the mountains are ideal. The air is fresh and the sun is stronger during the day, while the weather is cold at night. This difference between cold and hot helps create unique and deep flavors and enhances the clarity of the hints.
The higher the altitude, the more concentrated the flavor after roasting. This is why Yemeni coffee has more pronounced flavors than other coffee beans due to the higher altitude of the coffee plantations.
- A rich legacy is renewed
Yemeni coffee is not just a product produced and exported by Yemen, but it is a part of Yemeni culture. The history of Yemeni coffee dates back to the 15th century when a group of Sufis in Yemen discovered Yemeni coffee and used it as a drink to help them wake up during their nightly worship. After that, they began to manufacture and export it to the world. Therefore, Yemen is the cradle of coffee and the first country to cultivate and export it to the world through the port of "Mocha". Yemeni coffee set out to enchant the senses of the world with its flavor and to engrave a unique flavor in their minds that will never be repeated. Yemeni coffee has remained the authentic coffee whose taste has not changed.
- Rare grains:
Yemeni farmers still cultivate ancient varieties of Yemeni coffee that have not been subjected to any modification or hybridization. These varieties possess a unique, authentic flavor that is not found anywhere else. These tiny beans are Yemen's agricultural treasure, as most Yemeni coffee varieties have not been subjected to any hybridization or modification.
- Quality:
Yemeni coffee has maintained its quality because farmers focus on quality, not quantity. This has made Yemeni coffee expensive due to the increasing demand and the relatively small quantities of high quality. Every step of the cultivation and preparation process is carefully planned to preserve the flavor of Yemeni coffee, ensuring it remains of the same quality since it was first introduced to the world.
Yemeni coffee is a renewed tradition.
The world learned about coffee through the port of Mocha, known for its deep taste. After that, coffee lovers were not satisfied with any other type of coffee because their senses were accustomed to a quality that could not be found elsewhere, and to a balanced flavor that dazzled all their senses. They became accustomed to drinking coffee whose history began in Yemen.