Caramel Kush

Caramel Kush
Ethiopia, natural process

Tasting notes: Caramel, green apple, candied almonds

• Origin: Ethiopia
• Region: Sidama, Arbegona, Molla
• Farm: Molla Processing Station
• Producer: Various smallholders
• Varietal: Heirloom
• Process: Natural
• Altitude: 1,980-2,080 MASL

Sweet, clean and easy to like. Caramel leads, green apple adds a crisp lift, and candied almonds round out the finish. It has plenty of layers without ever getting muddled.

The place
Arbegona is one of Sidama's 30 districts, and Molla sits within it. Farms are surrounded by native forest and fertile highland soils. The coffee is grown at 1,980-2,080 metres by smallholders working plots of 0.5 to 3 hectares, all organically maintained. That combination of altitude, microclimate and traditional practice gives Sidama coffee its clarity and sweetness.

The coffee
Cherries are processed at the Molla Station. The heirloom varietals include the widely grown 74158 cultivar. Natural drying preserves the sweetness and adds body.

The process
Whole ripe cherries are dried in the sun on raised beds at altitude. They're turned regularly so they dry evenly, then hand-sorted to remove defects. Drying the cherries whole is what brings out the caramel and fruit notes.