Floral, sweet, and full of complex flavors

 

The Guji Zone of Ethiopia is one of our favorite regions of Ethiopia. The coffees from this lot were grown in the forests surrounding Yabitu Koba, Larcho Torka, and Layo Teraga.

 

Ethiopia is famous for being the place where the coffee bean originated. It is known for its gold medalists and its rock-hewn churches. Ethiopia is the top honey and coffee producer in Africa and has the largest livestock population in Africa. The Rastafarian religion claims Ethiopia as its spiritual homeland.                   

Ethiopia was the birthplace of Pan-Africanism (a united Africa). Hailed by Emperor Haile Selassie I, it led to the birth of the African Union. Ethiopia is home to the source of the Blue Nile, which together with the White Nile makes up the Nile River, the longest river in the world.

 It has the largest population of any landlocked country in the world. With mountains over 4,500 meters high, Ethiopia is the roof of Africa.

 Ethiopia is Africa’s oldest independent country and its second largest in terms of population. Apart from a five-year occupation by Mussolini’s Italy, it has never been colonized.

Ethiopians love their coffee and take pride in the fact that the plant’s invigorating effects were first discovered in the Oromia region of the country.

The earliest records of Ethiopia appear in Ancient Egypt, during the Old Kingdom period. Egyptian traders from about 3000 BC refer to lands south of Nubia or Kush as Punt and Yam.

Ethiopia is an ancient kingdom, which is as fascinating as it is challenging and confronting. The country strikes one as endlessly intriguing with an exciting natural history, in addition to it’s dramatic and legendary history. With unbelievably remarkable landscapes and some very charming people, Ethiopia will leave visitors with an unforgettable experience.

The country itself is an amazingly beautiful one that is unlike any place on earth. To discover Ethiopia, means to delve into its scenically, culturally and historically incredible aspects.

Ethiopia is an endless storehouse of natural history wonders.

In the past, Ethiopia was known only for the negative famine image portrayed in the media the world over but today she is being lauded for the many development projects and for having one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

The following list answers the question “what is Ethiopia?”

1)      Moon and Mars looking landscapes – see The Danakil, which is known to be the hottest place on earth.

2)      Monolithic churches built underground.

3)      Ethiopia’s calendar is 7 years behind the rest of the world.

4)      Ethiopia has the oldest most complete bible in Christendom.

5)      The oldest drum in the world is Ethiopian.

6)      Ethiopians us a 12 hour clock, not the traditional 24.

7)      Ethiopians cannot enjoy the highest quality coffee despite being the birthplace of coffee.

8)      Ethiopia is the only country in Africa with legendary castles.

9)      Ethiopia is home to the best Italian restaurant in the world.

10)   Ethiopians made Christianity a state religion in 324 before Rome did in 380.

 

Ethiopia has an incredible coffee-producing culture that sets it apart from other countries. It's one of the most interesting origins due to its unique and delightful coffees as well as the mystery that surrounds it. Ethiopia’s coffee is renowned for its powerful floral and fruity aromas and taste, which has opened many a professional’s eyes to the incredible range of flavors that coffee can possess.

Ethiopia is believed to be the first country to export coffee, however European traders were not allowed access. As more plantations began to appear in other countries such as Yemen, Java and the Americas, the interest in Ethiopian coffee declined. In Ethiopia, coffee production was mostly from wild trees grown in Kaffa and Buno districts at the time, not from plantations.

The export of coffee from Enerea, an area of modern-day Ethiopia in the early 1800's, sparked a renewed global interest in Ethiopian coffee. Around one hundred quintals of coffee made its way out of Enerea onto the global stage.

Ethiopian coffees are renowned for their diverse flavors (which can be purchased at www.413inspiredcoffee.com) - ranging from citrusy bergamot and floral to candied fruity or even tropical-like notes. This coffee is a medium roast and is known for it's sweet flavors and aromas with a medium to light body. Overall this coffee is very spicy and fragrant; often with a slightly chocolaty or nutty quality. It's undertones include notes of citrus or tangerine and is excellent for iced coffees. Washed coffees can have a refined and complex flavor profile, while the naturally processed ones are known for their intense and unique fruity taste.