Sumatra Mandehling Ratu Ketiara Gayo

Altitude
1200 – 1600 masl
Variety
Regional Catimor & typical cultivars
Soil
Volcanic loam
Region
Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia
Process
Wet-hulled and patio-dried in the sun
Harvest
September – June

PT Ketiara is an umbrella group in this area that was founded in 2009 by Ms. Rahmah, who began in coffee as a local cherry collector more than 20 years ago, and who by now is one of Indonesia’s most respected coffee entrepreneurs. The original cooperative was Fair Trade certified in 2011 and has grown from 38 original farmer members to almost 2000. The Ketiara group has built its reputation to be as transparent with its farmers as they are with their buyers when it comes to navigating local cherry markets, exporter competition, and quality expectations.

Ratu Ketiara Gayo (RKG) is the Ketiara group’s newest business unit as an all-women’s cooperative established in 2017. Together RKG members farm a total of 1,234 hectares of coffee. “Gayo” is Ketiara’s declaration, used to proudly signify a pure microregion and society of coffee from the center of Aceh, handmade by the Gayo people. Ketiara undoubtedly captures its community’s best qualities through careful logistics. The cooperative centrally controls the transport, final drying, and sorting of all members’ coffee. Also, all its storage and exports are done directly from the highlands of Aceh near the city of Takengon.

Cupping Notes: A full bodied cup with clean earthiness, grapefruit, and mild peatiness.