Ethiopia Sidama - Gatta Farm - Honey Process

Summary

Farm:  Gatta
Process:  Honey Process
Variety:  Heirloom Varieties
Elevation:  1920-2020 MASL
Region:  Sidama, Shantawene Village
Country:  Ethiopia

The Cup:

Tons of perfumey jasmine with toffee and mild caramel flavors. Clean fruit-like sweetness and balanced acidity.

Gatta Farm is at the heart of Shantawene Village in the Bensa woreda in Sidama, Ethiopia. Located in a natural forest, the site is surrounded by waterfalls, rivers, and indigenous trees that are more than 100 years old. One of the rivers separates Shantawene from Bombe and runs from the hills above Keramo. Gatta Farm has been named after a waterfall that crosses the farm. Gatta Farm was a natural forest before being discovered by the cofounder Mulugeta Dukamo while managing the construction of Gafisse Station. They planted the first coffees in 2013 and established the drying station in 2017. The vegetation and forest surrounding the farm are useful as natural shade for the farm and the drying station. Planting, harvesting, and processing are mainly done by local residents. Women also work mainly in areas of quality control and processing. The farm aims to support local residents through work opportunities and providing a proper wage. Gatta Farm isn’t only a farm. It also consists of a drying station, a lodge, and a training facility. During harvesting season, the drying station becomes active and also offers accommodations for employees or trainees until the training has ended. The training facility offers training in coffee processing for interested individuals.

Sidama Region

The Sidama region is known for producing the most coffee at the highest grades in Ethiopia, and the geography explains why this is. This region spreads across fertile highlands, where half of the land is cultivated. The surrounding rivers and lakes along with the very high elevation results in cool weather and fertile soil. These factors, in combination with over 100 inches of rainfall per year, cause the coffee to ripen slower than in any other region in Ethiopia. There are over 50 cooperatives and 200 washing stations throughout Sidama.