Cameroon Kouoptamo Cooperative Specialty Grade
 
Notes: Filbert nut, toasted coconut, zested citrus peel, herbal tones 
 
Varietal: Abyssinia
 
Additional Information:  This lot is a well balanced drinking coffee, with notable weighty body and well-integrated acidity.
 
From Wikipedia: 
"Coffee farming in Cameroon dates to 1884, during the German colonial era. The Germans went up to open trial gardens in Victoria, Ebolowa, Nkongsamba and Dschang. Coffee farming later extended to the hinterlands to Yokadouma, Abong-Mbang, Doumé, Lomié and Akonolinga. Around 1927, the coffee plant found its way to the West Region. By 1928, 200,000 coffee seedlings were planted in Dschang. By 1929, the development of coffee farming in Cameroon was thanks to René COSTE, a French Agricultural Engineer appointed to head the farming Station of Dschang. There was a high level of production in 1990 resulting in record export of 156,000 tons. Cameroon was ranked 12th in world ranking. When the production declined, it was attributed to the policies of the government and to the global economic crisis. The government has sought the help of Brazilian experts to suggest solutions, and it has also invested 750 million FCFA – about US$1.5 million for a five-year period as a relief package."
 
Others observe: One intriguing aspect in Cameroon, and the coffee often sold as Boyo, is the elongated and rather pointed green coffee bean. I was introduced to this as “Java” cultivar, though I understand traditionally Cameroon also had Jamaica variety arabica. (Blue Mountain Bourbon?) Years later, “Java” came up again … no relation to the Indonesian island or coffees developed there at the the research facility in Jember. No this was the same long “football shaped” green seed form, and it was in Nicaragua. A defunct commercial nursery was selling off seed and Mirisch farms had bought some and planted it near Matagalpa. Erwin told me he literally bought it by the side of the road. The cup was good, with soft acidity and a slight lemon cookie flavor that was unique The tree itself had extreme upright branches, a Christmas tree shape.
 
Java Cultivar was originally thought to be a Typica selection. In the mid-20th century, it was brought to Cameroon by a local farmer via the Vilmorin company, which acquired the seeds in Java from Porteres (a famous breeder). In Cameroon, the breeder Pierre Bouharmont observed that it was partially tolerant to coffee berry disease (CBD), a prevalent problem for coffee growers in Africa, and well adapted for smallholder growers using few inputs. After nearly 20 years of selection, it was released for cultivation in Cameroon in 1980-90.
 
It was originally thought to be a Typica selection. But genetic fingerprinting of molecular markers has revealed that Java is a selection from an Ethiopian landrace population called Abyssinia.
 
NET WT 12 oz