Exploring Yemen’s coffee background is intimidating due to its chronicle lasting for centuries, and the reliability of the sources you find for this data may vary. This is an amazingly captivating tale that ought to be shared.
In this article, we will cover the long chronology of the coffee bean, how the situation in Yemen has had an impact on its coffee industry, and a man who has been instrumental in sustaining Yemeni coffee culture.
Examining the prime coffee-growing regions, discussing the difficulties of coffee production, and exploring the characteristics of Yemeni coffee, we will now proceed to showcase some of the most exquisite coffees available out of this particular area.
Are you eager to investigate the area where coffee’s story began more than five centuries ago?
Yemen Coffee History
When you start thinking about the background of Yemeni coffee, you come across a long-standing discussion regarding precisely where the coffee plant originated. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact start of coffee, however, we can narrow its beginning to between the first centuries, with Ethiopia and Yemen being two possible origins.
It is an established truth that the two nations engaged in commerce with one another. Coffee plants were brought to Yemen from Ethiopia, and due to the dry climate they were able to adjust and become capable of thriving in their new environment.
At some point after coffee plants were discovered or migrated to Yemen, monasteries belonging to the Sufi order started growing and preparing coffee beans. These monks were the first to do so.
Where “Mocha” Came From
Yemen also traded with Indonesia regularly. Merchants exchanged coffee beans from Yemen’s harbor of Mokha, and in the progression, a mix of Indonesian Java and Yemen’s Mocha beans was fashioned and became widely popular all over the planet.
You’ll often come across the terms “Java” and “Mocha” when discussing today’s coffee industry. The name of “Java” was derived from the coffee grown on Indonesia’s Java island, and back then it was not used as a substitute term for coffee, meanwhile “Mocha” originated from the coffee of Mocha in Yemen.
The history of Yemen and its coffee are tightly intertwined. A civil conflict with a multitude of intricate problems starting in 2015 is continuing and is damaging the country’s vital systems.
A part of this infrastructure is Yemen’s coffee industry. The war has had an unfortunate impact on coffee farmers and the production of their beans, as the crop has been essentially removed from the market due to the destruction of the land used to grow it.
The Current Status of Yemen Coffee
Since the unrest in Yemen began, the markets have been disrupted. Acquiring coffee has been quite challenging, particularly in terms of importing it from Yemen. In 2015, a great deal of emphasis and curiosity was placed on Yemeni coffee at a Specialty Coffee Association of America celebration.
This moment was a turning point for the Yemen coffee industry, as it was able to illustrate the great quality of its product, the interesting stories associated with it, and appreciation of its people.
A Man With a Cause
Mokhtar Alkhanshali is the person responsible for reviving Yemen coffee. He wanted to use coffee as a method to connect Western and Yemeni cultures. He is a Yemeni American who had dreamed of creating this bridge.
Alkhanshali yearned to link his people to their coffee heritage, so he established sustainable agricultural systems in Yemen and provided instructional education to the farmers. This resulted in much success for the farms.
At the 2015 SCAA Event, Alkhanshali presented his Yemeni coffee beans, which marked a big milestone for Yemeni coffee. People who attended the event all spoke highly of the Yemeni coffees. The story behind how he managed to obtain those beans is remarkable. He is eager to ensure that these coffees become widely recognized.
At present, Mokhtar Alkhanshali is the proprietor of a prosperous business that deals exclusively in Yemeni coffee. The port is given the name of Mokha, a homage to the well-recognized port of Yemen in the coffee business.
Coffee Growing Regions
Many people have said that its slow development in a challenging environment has contributed greatly to its high demand globally, as well as its superior flavor compared to products originating from more favorable climates.
Just how high up are we talking? Coffee plants grow best at a height of approximately 2,400 meters above sea level. Luckily, this encompasses nearly all of the country, so almost 80% of the regions in the nation have coffee production.
The most significant areas for coffee-growing in the northern area include Al Mahweet, Sanaa, Hajjah, and Sa’dah. It is paramount to consider the Yamah and Al Hodaldah western areas for coffee cultivation; if you like to contrast, be sure to take notice of the altitude differences on offer.
Sanani
In the vicinity of Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, there are multiple locations referred to as Sanani. These coffee beans are cultivated at a lower elevation than other production regions, thus leading to them being viewed as inferior quality. Sanani coffees are distinguished for being fruity and not excessively acidic, having a traditional medium-bodied consistency, and possessing an even equilibrium.
Matari
Matari coffee is celebrated as among the most celebrated and renowned Yemeni coffees. The beans cultivated in Bani Mattar, located to the west of Sanaa, have a strong flavor that is reminiscent of both chocolate and wine. These types of beans have a more intense flavor and their acidity is higher than other variations of Yemeni coffee.
Ismaili
The Ismaili title applies both to coffees grown in the middle region of Yemen and to a distinct species of coffee plant. These beans are typically not very big and possess rich chocolatey and slightly malty flavors along with a gentle personality in contrast to the coffees from other areas of Yemen.
Growing Conditions and Challenges
Much of the difficulty in producing coffee in Yemen is due to the ongoing civil conflict in the country. The ongoing conflict in the nation is having an impact on the coffee production that was previously noted. Conflict and, particularly, Cholera have had a major impact on Yemen’s struggles with productivity. The New York Times labeled the problems in Yemen as “the most serious humanitarian disaster in the world.”
As noted before, the coffee plants of Yemen had to adjust to the dry conditions of their environment. The local climate in Yemen caused the coffee plants which were brought in from somewhere else to acclimate and evolve to become more resistant to dry conditions.
Yemeni coffee beans provide a complex and extraordinary taste experience due to their challenging cultivation process. Yemeni coffee typically has a distinctive flavor, characterized by its distinctive chocolate taste.
In spite of the trials still facing Yemeni coffee growers, they have managed to remain autonomous and discover solutions that have enabled them to endure.
Individuals operating businesses and those in the coffee business, Mokhtar Alkhanshali included, have helped advance the production of and increased the fascination with Yemeni coffee. In the end, who wouldn’t be eager to savor the most uncommon coffee on the planet?
Why Is It So Expensive?
The distinct flavor of Yemeni natural processed coffee makes it pricey, as does the limited amount picked from regional farms, the absence of up-to-date infrastructure, and the shipping fees from the farm to the harbor.
Almost the entire amount of coffee globally has its roots in Yemen. The word coffee comes from the Arabic word Qahwa. It is no shock that there is a great growth in the amount of famous Arabica beans around.
Yemen has had a pivotal part to play in the widespread acceptance of the coffee that is consumed by many people on a daily basis. In only a short time, it was spread across the globe while still preserving its special qualities.
Harvesting Yemen Coffee
At the start, it is important to be aware that the farming techniques used have not changed substantially in the last five centuries. It can be done in light of the generally small-scale, family-operated farms which create a picturesque configuration of terraces in the terrain, much like the tea-growing facilities located further east.
The emergence of these smaller-scale processes has been conducive in reducing the need for chemicals. The fruits are individually harvested when they are ripe, which guarantees that the quality is closely monitored.
An alternative method of handling requires that the beans remain in the fruit which they were located in before being placed to dry, whereas many industrial organizations rely on this process. The two are treated together using a drying method normally carried out in enclosed areas, such as caves. Yet, some families make use of rooftops.
When the fruit is dried, the results are aberrantly bumpy and rough seeds. This is what makes Yemeni coffee so delicious, giving it a strong but pleasant scent. The moment arrives when the millstones crush them, with either donkeys or camels as the power source.
A principal justification for these legumes receiving such esteem around the globe is that only the tastiest and aged legumes are shipped abroad. Much effort has been put in, with a watchful eye on each step of the manufacturing process that is unaffected by modern machines.
Where in the Middle East is Yemen?
Yemen is situated in the southern region of the Arabian Peninsula, between Oman and Saudi Arabia, and directly at the beginning of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait that connects the extensive Indian Ocean to the highly influential Red Sea. The mountainous areas in the inside have a similarity to other popular coffee production regions such as Colombia, where coffee is cultivated on the hillsides.
The height of the landscape is the most important element when it comes to growing coffee that has an amazing taste and diverse flavors. When you bring together great altitude with areas that are vulnerable to drought, you get a unique and exquisite type of old coffee.
The mountainous terrain results in a superior quality of coffee despite having a much smaller yield than other coffees with rising popularity, particularly those from the Western Hemisphere.
How Coffee in Yemen Became A Beverage
Most experts agree that coffee began in western Ethiopia. It is speculated that nomadic tribes were the original discoverers of the noteworthy stimulating qualities of this place. In the 6th century, the Ottoman Empire changed coffee into a type of drink, the earliest proof of drinking coffee being found in Zabid, a city in Yemen.
There is trustworthy proof to suggest that coffee was first drunk and known about within Sufi monasteries way back in 1450. It was focused on fulfilling the requirements of the people living in the area. Monks began to consume coffee in order to maintain alertness while they engaged in prolonged nocturnal meditation.
It wouldn’t take long for the custom to become widely established in the Middle East and take advantage of the many possibilities offered by the Red Sea.
Yemeni culture is tied to the coffee tree. It is understandable when one considers the extended period of time it takes to complete the intricate procedures. This drink, second only to water in terms of its appeal, is thought to have begun in Yemen – where it was planted and grown into the varieties of beans we can now purchase in the store.
Yemen’s Role in the Coffee Market
Yemenis had the edge on everyone else when it came to reaping the monetary rewards of coffee due to them being the very first people to cultivate it. By the 1500s, this particular type of coffee had already been sent out to Turkey, Persia, and Egypt.
It allowed Yemen to become more widely known. This country, which is largely made up of arid land, was granted a tremendous source of income and remained the only source of coffee for an impressive 200 years, granting it a highly beneficial standing.
Exportation exploded around this time. The result of this was that an increasing number of trade routes were created and implemented by camels who would walk across the mountain ranges in Yemen. This booming industry was born!
The inclusion of the Red Sea in the emerging mercantile systems marked a significant shift. This was the essential element for tapping into numerous expansive markets, such as India and Turkey.