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Mocha Coffee Beans: Origins from Famous World Heritage Sites - Introduction to Yemen's Best Coffee Growing Regions

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange platform. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). FrontStreet Coffee - Yemen Mocha Coffee Introduction: As early as the late 17th to early 18th century, the coffee beans first consumed by Europeans actually came from Yemen's Mocha region. Because of this historical significance, the term "Mocha" became synonymous with coffee. Whenever Mocha was mentioned, one would immediately think of coffee. However...

FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Yemen Mocha Coffee

As early as the late 17th to early 18th centuries, the first coffee beans that Europeans tasted were actually from Yemen's Mocha. Consequently, the term "Mocha" became synonymous with coffee, and mentioning Mocha would immediately bring coffee to mind. However, after three centuries, Yemeni coffee is no longer as abundantly produced as before, with an annual output of only about 10,000 metric tons, making it insignificant compared to other countries. It's truly regrettable! Nevertheless, Yemen Mocha's distinctly "wild" specialty coffee beans still captivate many people. Yemen Mocha possesses complex flavors such as red wine aroma, wild taste, dried fruit notes, berries, and chocolate, which are absolutely fascinating!

Yemen Coffee Growing Regions

Yemen's coffee growing regions are mainly concentrated in the northern highlands, with elevations ranging between 1,000-2,400 meters, creating significant variations in terrain. Several relatively well-known growing regions include:

Mattari

Located at elevations of 2,000-2,400 meters, this is Yemen's highest altitude growing region and also the most renowned coffee bean. When lightly roasted, it exhibits distinct fruit fermentation flavors and red wine aroma, with noticeable sweetness and berry or citrus acidity. However, when dark roasted, it presents a different flavor profile with prominent chocolate sweetness.

Sanani

Sanani is a general term referring to coffee from the growing areas surrounding the capital Sana'a. This region's flavor is characterized by rich fruit notes, often with more pronounced ripe fruit and wild characteristics than Mattari. However, it is currently extremely rare and quality varies considerably, requiring special attention.

Ismaeili

With elevations between 1,800-2,200 meters, located in central Yemen, this name also refers to a coffee variety. The beans are somewhat rounder than Mattari and possess slightly higher complexity, even exhibiting cardamom, tobacco, and aged wood notes. Production is limited and prices are expensive.

Yemen shares the same coffee lineage as Ethiopia. Areas near the capital Sana'a such as Haraz, Bany Mattar, and Al-Khaimah have always been famous for producing premium coffee beans. Beans from these locations are collectively referred to as "Sanani."

The main harvest period in Haraz is from October to December. Premium coffee beans for export are hand-picked during this time.

Cultivation Methods

Yemen creates farmland in wadis (dry valleys) and also utilizes the slopes of canyons to cultivate terraced fields. Wadis are riverbeds at the bottom of canyons in mountainous areas, at altitudes around 1,500m. Apart from the rainy season, wadis are typically dry, with only groundwater streams deep underground. When actually visiting here, the land might appear barren at first glance, yet it miraculously produces exceptional coffee fruits.

On the other hand, terraced fields are located on high ground at 2,200m altitude, where coffee beans produced are all premium export products. However, the grade of wadi-grown coffee and the evaluation of flavors from various regions are considered higher than coffee beans harvested from terraced fields.

In terms of price, coffee produced in areas like Haraz, Mattari, and Rimy that can clearly indicate production history naturally commands higher prices. Although beans named "Mocha Mattari" are sold on the market, their production history is often insufficiently detailed. True Mocha Mattari refers to coffee beans harvested from the Bany Mattar region, which is in a similar area to Haraz. Due to high prices and limited circulation, they are rare.

Traditional Yemeni Coffee Culture

In traditional Yemeni customs, dried coffee fruit husks and pulp are boiled to make a beverage called "Gishr." Unlike Ethiopia, Yemen does not have a tradition of drinking coffee. "Qahwa," made by adding Gishr with unique ingredients like cardamom or ginger before boiling, is the beloved beverage among the people.

Key Takeaway

Good coffee — premium green beans with defective beans removed, properly roasted, and correctly extracted while fresh.

In summary: FrontStreet Coffee is a specialty coffee research center dedicated to sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. Our unreserved sharing is aimed at helping more friends fall in love with coffee. Additionally, we hold three coffee promotion events with significant discounts each month, because FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends enjoy the best coffee at the lowest possible prices. This has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for six years!