Our project with farmers in Sulawesi began in 1997, when we developed links with the United States Agency for International Development to establish long term relationships with producers in this region of Indonesia.

Of the two co-operatives we work with, one is the primary source of our coffee - KUD Sane - and the other, PUSPETA Luwu is secondary.

In its most pure form, this is a totally handmade coffee grown from an old varietal Arabica tree almost extinct in other regions of the world due to its tiny (but exceptional quality) yield compared to other commercial cultivars.

Once picked, the ripe coffee cherries are placed on mats in the sun and left to naturally dry - with members of the tribe gently turning the fruit to ensure they do not bake in the hot sun, or are damaged by the seasonal monsoon. Due to interruptions by recurring tropical rains, the drying process may take up to four weeks The beans are then removed from the fruit by gently pounding the cherries with a large pestle, and the inner parchment is stripped by hand. This prized selection is then placed in cotton sacks and collected until enough is ready to export.

The unusual flavour and deep, heavy body and velvety floral tones are achieved during the long periods of sun drying, where the coffee cherry dries onto the bean and seeps some of it's rich flavours into the shipped crop. Although this is not a certified organic coffee, a portion of the smallholders are planning to gain both organic and Fairtrade certification over the coming months.