Introduction to Indonesian Sumatra Mandheling Coffee Beans - Are Mandheling Coffee Beans Arabica?

Introduction to Mandheling Coffee by FrontStreet Coffee

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Origin of Mandheling Coffee

The most renowned Sumatran Mandheling coffee comes from Sumatra Island, Indonesia. Among the premium traditional Arabica coffees produced in northern Sumatra, the finest are marketed under the names Lintong and Mandheling. Lintong refers to coffee grown in a small area located in the Lintong administrative district, southwest of Lake Toba. Mandheling is a broader term that includes Lintong coffee and similar coffees from the Diari region and northern Lake Toba growing areas.

What is Mandheling Coffee?

Mandheling coffee: Produced in Sumatra, Asian Indonesia, also known as "Sumatran Coffee." It has a very rich flavor and is considered one of the mellowest coffees in the world.

Historical Background

In the 17th century, the Dutch introduced Arabica seedlings to Ceylon (today's Sri Lanka) and Indonesia. In 1877, a large-scale disaster struck the Indonesian islands. Coffee rust disease destroyed almost all coffee trees, forcing people to abandon the Arabica varieties they had cultivated for years and introduce Robusta coffee trees from Africa, which had stronger disease resistance.

Mandheling Processing Method

Mandheling's processing method involves removing the mucilage layer when the parchment beans are still moist, then drying them slightly. The moisture content of the coffee beans in the parchment reaches about 18%, and finally, export merchants purchase the moist parchment beans, placing them in large drying fields or using machine drying until the moisture content reaches 12% for storage. The drying process of Mandheling, due to insufficient hardware equipment among coffee farmers, adopts a three-stage division of labor involving farmers, brokers, and exporters. This is also a rare processing method in the world, creating Mandheling's special characteristics of low acidity, thickness, and mellow aroma.

Flavor Profile

Mandheling coffee is considered one of the mellowest coffees in the world. When tasting Mandheling, you can feel a distinct smoothness on your palate. It also has lower acidity, but this acidity can still be clearly tasted. The jumping micro-acidity mixes with the richest aroma, allowing you to easily experience the lively factors within the gentle richness. Additionally, this coffee has a faint earthy aroma, which some describe as the fragrance of herbal plants.

Knowledge Point

Mandheling coffee beans are relatively large in size and hard in texture. They are prone to defects during the growing process. Therefore, after harvesting, they usually undergo strict manual selection.

FrontStreet Coffee's Mission

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