Flores Island
By Portola
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| Price: | $11.50 |
| Availability: | In Stock |
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* Choose Whole Bean or Grind Level:To prolong freshness and maximize taste and aroma, we suggest whole bean. But, we can certainly grind it for you if you wish.
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Short Description:
What makes this coffee so special is that it's brawny, yet sophisticated. I equate it to a mountain man in a tuxedo. It has a big bold flavor with a heavy body, but different than its Sumatran cousin in that it replaces earthiness with high notes of currant, caramel and walnut.
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To buy, select Choose Whole Bean or Grind Level
(Choose from options to the left)
Choose Whole Bean or Grind Level:
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Coffee Details
- REGION: Flores Island
- LOCATION: Bajawa, Manggarai District
- ELEVATION: 3600 - 5400 feet
- VARIETAL: Typica, Catimor
- PROCESSING METHOD: Semi-Washed
- GRADE: Strictly Hard Bean
- CERTIFICATION: Organic
- ROAST LEVEL: Full
- FLAVOR NOTES: Full, rich body. Bold flavor with hints of currant, clove, caramel, walnut, and semi-sweet chocolate
Growers Information
Flores is one of the big islands in the Lesser Sunda archipelago situated some 8 - 9° S and 120 – 123° E. The island was discovered by Portuguese explorers in the early 15th century, when they landed on a small peninsula in the east and called it “Coba da Flores” because of the incredible coral formations ringing the island. In the last few years, Flores has been swamped by ethnographers, paleontologists, and biologists after the discovery of three-foot tall Homo Erectus skeletons and miniaturized elephant fossils dating back about 15,000 years. The island is also home to Komodo dragons, not to mention massive saltwater crocodiles.
Bajawa is both an ethnic group and a small town. The Bajawa ethnic group mainly inhabits the eastern part of the central highlands, in Ngada District, on the slopes of the Inerie volcano (2,245 m). The total population of this area is around 100,000 people, most of whom are Catholic due to Portuguese, and later Dutch, colonization.
The total area under coffee cultivation in Ngada Distict is around 6000 hectares, of which 90% is Arabica. Arabica coffee is grown at altitudes ranging from 1,200m to 1,600m above sea level. Fertilizer inputs have almost never been applied by the farmers, other than organic manure and composting. The varietals grown on Flores are S 795 (dominant), Typica, Catimor, and some Timor Hybrids. S 795 is an Indian selection which was introduced to Java in the mid 1950’s.
Under normal climate conditions the coffee harvesting period begins in May or early June. Traditionally the farmers handpick only the mature (red) cherries. After picking, the cherries are hand sorted to remove under-ripes. The harvesting period is usually wrapped up by September or early October.
This coffee was processed using a semi-washed technique also referred to as wet-hulled or pulped natural. In this process coffee is harvested and pulped mechanically or by hand within 24 hours after picking. The ripe cherries then pass through a pulper which separates the beans and mucilage from the pulp of the cherry. The coffee is then spread on a patio and left to dry until it reaches a moisture of 23-27% . At this moisture level the bean itself is hard enough to withstand hulling or separation of the bean from the parchment. This process is similar to but different from dry hulling which takes place when the bean reaches a relative moisture level of 11-14%.
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