Coffee from Yemen: historical facts

Yemeni farmers were the first in the world to not only grow coffee, but also cultivate plantations. They have been growing it here for over 600 years. natural coffee without adding fertilizers. Due to weather conditions, Yemen's plantations are small.

Many people think that most Yemenis have their own small plantation, but this is a big mistake. Locals are poor, and only wealthy people can afford a coffee plantation (even a small one).

How Yemeni Coffee Is Grown

Farmers pay special attention to growing coffee and pass on ancient traditions from generation to generation. This is the reason why various additives are not used for growing coffee. Coffee trees grow in humid conditions, in well-lit and warm areas. To attract bees to the plantation and pollinate the coffee trees, locals install trays with sweet water on the plantations.

The harvest takes place in August and September (coffee berries are collected for about 2 weeks). Then the beans are dried on the roofs of houses, cleaned, sifted, and packed in linen bags. Each family uses its own historical methods, and all work is done manually. The only improvement in 500 years of coffee growing is the use of greenhouses for growing young seedlings.

The coffee harvests from Yemen are small, so the beans are not sorted by size and are always expensive. Almost all Yemeni coffee is exported to the USA, Japan, Europe, and the UAE.

Famous Coffee Varieties from Yemen

The most popular coffee from Yemen is:

Sanani. Coffee beans grown west of the city of Sana'a. Coffee is considered budget. The taste of the drink is rich, with a good aroma and wine notes;

Matari (also called Mokko Matari). This is the most elite coffee variety from Yemen. Some gourmets consider it the best in the world. The name of the coffee is associated with the lands on which the plantations are located (the territory of the Matari tribe). The beans are large and oblong. Light roast coffee tastes like chocolate.

Hodeidah. This coffee blend is named after the port from which the products were shipped to other countries. The coffee includes many varieties: Burai, Heimi, Sharki. The harvest of these varieties is small, so it is almost impossible to find such coffee. The Hodeidah drink tastes strong with citrus notes and a strong aroma.

Coffee Traditions of Yemen

Drinking coffee for Yemenis is a whole ritual, with special traditions that differ in each family and are never advertised.

If locals invite you to have coffee, you should never refuse. The hosts perceive refusal as an insult, since drinking coffee together is a sign of trust and friendship. Don't be surprised that locals rinse their mouths before drinking coffee: this is necessary to feel the real taste of the drink.

Yemeni coffee was not always made from beans. Some families still drink coffee according to the ancient recipe. Once upon a time, Yemeni residents made a strong tincture from coffee berries, but the beans were considered waste and thrown away. This drink is called gyshr or geshir. It does not quite resemble the usual taste of coffee, but rather a compote, only with a higher caffeine content. You will be surprised, but gyshr is much healthier for the body. It does not cause heartburn or stomach problems.

How to Make Yemeni Coffee

At first, coffee beans were processed by boiling, crushed and added to food as a seasoning. Over time, locals began to make various tinctures on raw coffee beans, boiled only the pulp, and only in the 11th century did locals think of grinding coffee beans and making a drink from them. By the way, the drink geshir is still made from the pulp of coffee berries.

Today, Yemeni coffee is sold ground, so a Turk and coffee pots are perfect for making the drink. To make Yemeni coffee at home, you will need:

• 1 tsp coffee (if you like strong drinks, you can add 2 tsp);
• sugar (optional);
• ginger (must be peeled and chopped).

All ingredients must be placed in a Turk and brewed according to the Turkish recipe. The drink in the Turk must be brought to a boil twice. If the coffee is strong and thick, then you did everything right. You can add various additives to coffee: cloves, cream and even salt.

How to cook Gyshr

Each Yemeni prepares gyshr differently. Some have it as a very strong decoction, while others have it as a light drink (similar to our compote). To prepare gyshr, you will need: