Al Mahjar Peaberry Competition 90+

From Yemen’s Al Mahjar region, cultivated by ultra-smallholder farmers at elevations exceeding
2000masl comes a remarkable peaberry selection. In this region, coffee trees grow in
challenging conditions, including scarce water resources, dramatic temperature variations, and
steep mountainous terrain. These natural adversities, paired with meticulous farming practices,
contribute to the distinctive quality and character of this coffee. This lot is processed through
deep fermentation. The result is a coffee that reflects both the ancient traditions and innovative
techniques of Yemeni coffee cultivation.

Deep fermentation is a slow, oxygen-limited fermentation process that allows microorganisms more time to break down the natural sugars and fruit pulp surrounding the coffee bean. As yeasts and bacteria transform these sugars into organic acids and aromatic compounds, the coffee develops a richer body, deeper sweetness, and layered notes of fruit and spice. The result is a coffee that is intensely flavourful and syrupy.

When one thinks of the countries most associated with coffee, Yemen may not be the first to
come to mind. Yet coffee is deeply rooted in this land’s history and the world owes much of its
coffee culture to this remarkable country.
While the coffee tree originated in Ethiopia, Yemen is where coffee first found its cultivated form
more than five centuries ago. It’s said that coffee was first consumed as a beverage in western
Yemen around 1450, by Sufi monks who drank it to stay awake during all-night meditations. This
practice marked the beginning of the world’s coffee-drinking culture as we know it today.
So why is so little known about Yemen’s role? During the colonial era, Dutch, French, and British East
India trading companies smuggled Yemeni coffee plants and established their own farms across
Asia, Africa, and the Americas. As global production expanded, Yemen, who was once the
world’s sole exporter of coffee saw its share drop to just 6% in the 1800s. Today, it accounts for
less than 1%.
Still, Yemen’s legacy endures. Its mountain terraces, traditional methods, and ancient heirloom
varietals produce coffees of extraordinary depth, rarity, and historical significance. Each cup is a
living connection to where it all began.