"Dark chocolate, tobacco, dried plum, brown sugar, black tea, lime."

Wagiman and Yasmin, two producers in the Aceh Tengah region of Sumatra, share a dedication to organic farming. Their farms, located at around 1,400 meters above sea level, are certified Fairtrade organic and only utilize natural fertilizers such as coffee husks and cow manure to enrich their coffee crops. This ensures soil fertility and longevity.

Ethnic Gayo farmers primarily grow Gayo 1 and Gayo 2 varietals. Although their origins are not well documented, many believe that Gayo 1 is a strain of the Timor variety, while Gayo 2 shares similar characteristics to Timor and Bourbon. Both are commonly found throughout the highlands of this popular coffee region. The cup profile tends to be lighter bodied than Mandheling coffees from further east.

Sumatra coffee production has a long history extending to the 17th century, when the Dutch East India company imported coffee plants to Indonesia. Sumatra is home to a wide range of tropical flora, fauna, and microclimates. Farms on Sumatra are typically .5 to 2.5 hectares, scattered across remote regions and connected by a network of collectors, processors, traders and exporters to the global market.