Blind Assessment

Crisp yet jammy; exotic. Strawberry preserves, lilac-like flowers, roasted cacao nib, oak, a hint of black currant in aroma and cup. Gently bright acidity; light, satiny mouthfeel. Hints of flowers and sweet strawberry carry into a quiet but resonant finish.

Notes

Haraz (also Haraaz, other spellings) is a celebrated coffee growing region in north-central Yemen, west of the capital of Sana’a. Although Ethiopia is the botanical home of Coffea Arabica, Yemen introduced the beverage to the rest of the world in the 16th and 17th centuries, and Yemeni coffee is still grown from ancient heirloom cultivars of arabica on stone-walled terraces ringing fortress-like mountaintop villages. All Yemen coffees are natural-processed, or dried in the whole fruit. This particular Yemen may owe its striking aromatics to ancient tree varieties, but its clean elegance is most likely owing to the efforts of exporter Rayyan Mill in the capital of Sana’a, which has worked with farmers to improve picturesque but often haphazard harvesting and drying procedures. Victrola is a small-batch, hands-on roaster with a passionate commitment to quality and distinctiveness. Visit www.victrolacoffee.com or call 206-624-1725 for more information.

Bottom Line

A distinct strawberry note, somewhere between strawberry jam and strawberry guava, sweetly contrasting with a slightly pungent, oaky crispness, give this coffee its unusual character.

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