Coffee connoisseurs all over the world would agree that waking up in the morning to a cup of genuine Sumatran Mandheling Coffee is quite a treat! The taste is rich, with a low level of acidity, complex and an aroma that offers an unequalled sensory experience. Oh, yes, drinking this coffee is indeed a treat to the palate!
So, what makes this coffee so special? Coffee has been grown in Sumatra since the 18th century, in the areas known as Aceh in the north of the country and around the Lake Toba area. Mandheling coffee grows at altitudes between 2,500 to 5,000 feet. The soil, microclimate, weather and wind conditions, and the coffee plantations keep yielding one of the finest gourmet coffees in the world that simply cannot be replicated anywhere else. Chemicals are not used. Mandheling coffee is processed using what is known as the “semi-washed” method. In other words, the coffee cherry is de-pulped from the coffee seed before drying which “cleans” the coffee seed from the fruit pulp that surrounds it. This is a process that further refines the flavor and helps make Sumatra Mandheling coffee one of the best in the world.
Mandheling coffee has herbal aroma, full body, low acidity and a rich flavor. The highest grade is Sumatra Mandheling Grade # 1. It is a smooth coffee that is a pleasure to let linger on the tongue so all the senses can enjoy it. To the “coffee romantics’ who love the Mandheling cup, this coffee delivers a sensory experience that surpasses great wine, fine chocolate, truffles, caviar and cheese all combined. That is saying a lot!
Where does the name “Mandheling” come from? There are many stories around this but the following one seems to be most believable. During the Japanese occupation of Sumatra, Japanese soldiers asked a local Mandailing coffee owner about the coffee they were served. Due to linguistic misinterpretation, the coffee shop operator understood he was being asked “what” he was and promptly replied, “Mandailing,” of course. The Japanese soldiers did not realize the shop owner was referring to his ethnic group. Instead, the soldiers thought the name of the coffee was “Mandailing.”
No coffee actually grows in the Maindailing region but plenty of coffee is sold and served in the area. Years later, in Japan, a former Japanese soldier asked a business person in Sumatra if they could arrange for regular shipments of an excellent coffee called “Mandailing.” According to the story, the Pwani coffee broker recognized a business opportunity and proceeded to arrange for a shipment of fifteen (15) tons of “Mandailing” coffee to Japan. The designation simply stuck and has been used ever since except the most common spelling is “Mandheling.”
Whether this story is true or a myth, the fact remains that Mandheling coffee is excellent and sought after by coffee connoisseurs worldwide. So, what about tasting a delicious cup of gourmet Sumatra Mandheling specialty coffee?
