Indonesia Bali Karana Kintamani

What We Taste: Red Grape  Dark Chocolate  Sweet Candy
 
The Karana community represents a collective of 377 smallholder farmers in the Kintamani region of Bali, Indonesia, situated between the Batukaru and Agung volcanoes.  The farms are situated at an average elevation of 1,200 meters, span a total area of 477 hectares, and are rooted in the traditional Balinese community culture and practice of Hindu tradition.  In addition to coffee, the farmers also grow oranges, vegetables, and other crops, enhancing the biodiversity and sustainability of their farming practices.  The small-holder farmers in the area employ a variety of processing methods, including natural, fully washed, anaerobic, honey, and wet-hulled techniques, and farm organically in part due to religious practise.  These diverse processing techniques result in unique flavour profiles that are considered distinctive to the Kintamani region.
 
The contributing farmers utilize composting, avoid chemical sprays, and plant suitable overstory trees to promote ecological balance.   Farmers are guided by the Hindu philosophy of Tri Hita Karana where happiness is found via a good relationship with nature, neighbours and God.  A new cooperative dry mill, funded by private donations, will further support the farmers by providing accessible and efficient processing facilities during and after the harvest.
 
This particular coffee has undergone an anaerobic natural process combined with carbonic maceration, which includes a step where the whole coffee cherry undergoes a fermentation in a carbon dioxide flushed sealed container.  It is a combination of S795 variety, which is an Arabica introduced to Indonesia in the 1970's via India; and the Kartika variety which has become less popular due to its susceptibility to leaf rust, but is renowned for its exceptional flavour profile.
 
Sustainability lies at the heart of Karana's approach to agriculture. The contributing farmers utilize composting, avoid chemical sprays, and plant suitable overstory trees to promote ecological balance. A new cooperative dry mill, funded by private donations, will further support the farmers by providing accessible and efficient processing facilities during and after the harvest.
 
All of the effort results in a heavy cup with a boozy acidity and a distinct mellow sweet candy-like finish, with flavour notes of red grapes and dark chocolate.
 
Available for either espresso or filter coffee brewing.