Java Organic Taman Dadar Kayumas

Java is the fourth largest and most populous island both in the world and in the over 17,000 island archipelago between the Indian and Pacific Ocean that comprises the nation of Indonesia. Around the size of Florida with a population of around 154-million-people, the island ranks 13th in overall world population density and comprises greater than half the 284-million-person population of Indonesia ranking the nation as the world’s 4th most populous and 3rd largest democracy.

Java is the “swizzle” that stirs the Indonesian drink helping to make the nation the largest economy in Southeast Asia and 8th largest in the world. Java’s history is ancient. The Ramayana, one of the two Hindu epic cosmological Holy Books, explains that the island had a governmental organization long before 500 BCE. The Japanese legend of “Aji Saka” speaks of the Java civilization in 78 CE. The Greek geographer Ptolemy, living 100-170 CE, writes of the island. The Chinese historical record “Ming Shi” reads of the Java Kingdom in 65 BCE.

Four of Indonesia's eight UNESCO world heritage sites are in Java. Ujung Kulon National Park contains the largest remaining area of lowland rainforest in Java. Borobudur Temple, built in the 9th Century CE, is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Prambanan Temple, built in the 9th Century CE, is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia and 2nd largest in Southeast Asia. Sangiran Early Man Site is recognized by scientists as one of the most important sites in the world to study fossil man including fossilized Homo erectus “Java Man” dating back 1.3 million years.

Amazing, a remote island having such a profound impact on the past and now the present with coffee emerging on the scene in 1696 upon the first arabica plants arrival. Our Organic Taman Dadar Kayumas is cultivated in the East Java Ijen-Raung Coffee Region, on the islands eastern extreme approximately 630 miles from the Indonesian capital Jakarta on the islands western extreme, by the Surya Abadi Cooperative from the 1792-acre Kayumas Estate, one of the four farms dating back to Dutch colonialism. These original estates were once solely government operated but have since been gradually privatized.

The area is centered around Gunung Raung, roughly meaning “Roaring Mountain”, Java’s 3rd highest peak and most active volcano, which provides excellent ash-enriched terroir. Surya Abadi roughly means “Immortal Energy” and is an apt name for the 66-member cooperative providing our coffee from familial farms averaging 5 acres. Taman Dadar means “a cultivated area for growing plants” and our Organic Taman Dadar Kayumas is indeed a spicy savory cultivated beauty. Our coffee uses a wet-hulled process which is necessary in Java’s hot humid climate to promote quicker drying while retarding spoilage. The process involves “depulping” the cherry fruit leaving some thick sticky mucilage, the seed is then fermented in a plastic storage tank where a thick husk forms, “hulling” the husk/parchment from the seed and drying in the sun. Due to the process’ rugged nature, the beans are not the most attractive, but the resulting higher moisture content yields a weighty earthy syrupy body that might be just what the doctor ordered on an early morning.

Our Organic Taman Dadar yields a dense creamy body with a muted woody spicy aroma of cinnamon along with bittersweet dark caramel. The taste has significant roasted gravity… a lingering earthy smokey sweet pepper, perhaps, paprika, dark chocolate with a surprising lemony finish. This brew may require some adjustment to your approach and a little slower pace while you gain altitude… strap-in and enjoy the ride. We say Viva la Difference, “long live the difference” and appreciate the diversity our wonderful world offers.

Process: Wet-Hulled Process… depulped, fermented, hulled and dried  

Elevation: 2625-5249 feet