Sumatra: Arabica Varieties in Aceh

This is a list of ArabicaArabica refers to Coffea Arabica, the taxonomic species name of the genus responsible for around 75% of the worlds commercial coffee crop.: Arabica refers to Coffea Arabica, the... ...more coffee varieties in AcehThe northernmost district in SumatraL Aceh District is north of North Sumatra and produces some very classic Sumatra coffees. The center of coffee in Aceh is Lake Tawar... ...more that is not exhaustive nor is it very “sciency.” It is simply based upon varieties that I encountered or discussed with producers. It is not in alphabetical order, or any particular order at all!   -Thompson Nov 2019

GayoGayo is ethnic group from the area of Aceh Sumatra around Lake Takengon. They use the name Gayo Coffee to market their production. The Acehnese are a different... ...more 1 =Gayo Satu.  This varietyA botanical variety is a rank in the taxonomic hierarchy below the rank of species and subspecies and above the rank of form (form / variety / subspecies... ...more is said to be a strain of TimorTimor-Leste (East Timor) is a tiny island between Australia and Sulawesi, annexed by Indonesia and liberated in a referendum several years ago. Small scale coffee farming was jump-started... ...more Variety (TimTim, Hibrido de TimorHibrido de Timor abbreviated HdT is the interspecies hybrid of C. Arabica and C. Canephora (Robusta) that was found in Timor Leste in the 1940s. This was presumed... ...more) selected at ICCRI, the Indonesian CoffeeIndonesian coffee is known for its unique earthy, potent flavors. Some like it, some hate it, but it's certainly distinctive. Much of the coffee in Indonesia is processed... ...more<Coffee ResearchThe study of the agronomy of coffee, its chemistry, or other improvements: The study of the agronomy of coffee, its chemistry, or other improvements. There are coffee research... ...more facility in Jember. However, it is said the 2 employees who selected it did not follow the best practices in doing so or document its origins. But it matches the morphology of HdT and has been assumed to be a selection of Timor variety.

Gayo 2 =Gayo Dua. This variety is supposed to have TimTim and either Line-S (S-795) or BourbonA coffee cultivar; a cross between Typica and Bourbon, originally grown in Brazil: Mundo Novo is a commercial coffee cultivar; a natural hybrid between "Sumatra" and Red Bourbon,... ...more genetics. It originated in Aceh, in a particular farmer’s garden, Maisir Aman Al in Jongok Meluem Village Bandar District, Bener Meriah Regency. It was derived from 4 trees on his farm that were the progeny of a particular “mother tree” that had good production and resistance. Given that it is a selection from a farmer’s field it is hard to believe claims of particular parent varieties, whether S-795 or Bourbon. But some say Gayo 2 is the same as BorBorGayo 2 = Gayo Dua. This variety is supposed to have TimTim and either Line-S (S-795) or Bourbon genetics. It originated in Aceh, in a particular farmer's garden,... ...more which supports the idea it has Bourbon.

TimTim = Timor Hybrid = Hibrido de TimorCatimor is a broad group of cultivars derived from a Hibrido de Timor (HdT) and Caturra cross, highly productive, sometimes with inferior cup flavor. The main issue is... ...more = Hdt. This is the interspecific hybrid of C. Arabica and C. Canephora (RobustaRobusta usually refers to Coffea Robusta, responsible for roughly 25% of the world's commercial coffee. Taxonomy of Robusta is debated: some sources use “Robusta” to refer to any... ...more) that was found in Timor Leste in the 1940s. It has been the bases of plant breeding for disease-resistant varieties that are widely planted, such as CatimorAteng is a common name for Catimor coffees widely planted in Sumatra and other Indonesia isles.: Ateng, with several subtypes, is a common name for Catimor coffees widely... ...more. But pure Timor Hybrid is also widely planted, though there seem to be many sub-types of this variety. There were early selections brought in the 1980s in at least 2 waves, but ICCRI introduced a more stable and productive TimTim type in the 1990s. This 1990s release might refer to Gayo Dua.

AbyssiniaEthiopia, formerly known as Abyssinia, or a coffee cultivar: Ethiopia, or more specifically the Empire under Haile Selassie,  was known as Abyssinia. The name is Latin, derived from... ...more 3 = AB3.  PJS Cramer, a Dutch plant researcher, introduced this variety in 1928, supposedly from Ethiopia seed stock. It was planted in East Java initially but some found its way to Aceh Tengah. There is some documentation to support its Ethiopian heritage. It has a large and very elongated seed form. Reportedly the “Abyssinia” types bear resemblance to Java varietyJava Variety, which is most often found now as a high quality, high altitude coffee planted in Central America, was actually developed and planted in Cameroon. It is... ...more, which is a breed from Cameroon, not Java.

Abyssinia 7 = AB7, called RambungThere are several types of Abyssinia variety coffee, but they are not from Ethiopia but rather Indonesia. Abyssinia 3 = AB3.  PJS Cramer, a Dutch plant researcher, introduced this variety... ...more and widely planted, in Aceh. Reportedly an improved Abyssinia crossed with TimTim. Elongated bean form but generally less than AB-3, and more widely planted. The Abyssinia types have a tall and wide form, taking up more space and therefore less coffee yield per hectare. They also show productivity decline at 10 years according to the Dutch report, but I hear people replace the trees after 20 years. There is a premium for marketing “longberry” coffee in the Java market, so I observe people still planting and separating these coffees.

BorBor.  A local selection of Timor Hybrid possibly crossed with Bourbon, and also possibly referred to as Gayo 2 (Gayo Dua). In Aceh, it does not seem to be widely planted: I actually did not encounter a single “BorBor” tree on 3 trips to Aceh. However, some say BorBor is the same as Gayo 2, and that it is a Timor Hybrid x Bourbon cross. It is a selection from the field though, not a plant breeding program, so it is unclear how a claim of particular genetics can be supported.

BP-542.  A catimor selection from ICCRI. It came originally from a Costa RicaCosta Rican coffee is typically very clean, sweet, with lots of floral accents. hey are prized for their high notes: bright citrus or berry-like flavors in the acidity,... ...more catimor, and is reported to have poor cup quality.

USDA  (“OOH-STA”) 3.  USDA types were brought here by the US in the 1950s: S731, s762, and s765. S762 is most widely planted. S762 was part of a collection of seeds gathered by the UN Food & Agriculture Organization from the Mizan Tafari Ethiopia in 1955. 10 plants were sent to the coffee research station in Jember, Java. The image at the top of this article, of seedlings, is S731 USDA, which a farmer in Aceh intends to plant as a separated variety on his farm!

S-288Selection 288, a coffee leaf rust (CLR) resistant strain of arabica released by the Coffee Board of India in 1937 ...more = S-LineS-795 is a variety based on the " S-Line" coffees of  India, and stands for Selection 795,  It has a very fine cup, one of the best in... ...more, and perhaps also called Jember.  S288 falls under the S-LineA set of cultivars developed in India: S-line coffees include the heavily planted S795 and the earlier S288, which have good rust (CLR) fungus resistance. In Indonesia they... ...more group of coffees that came from India’s coffee research. Some say it is the true Jember.  S-288  is a selection of the interspecific S-26 variety, which is a cross of c. arabica and c. liberica. It is reported to have lower cup quality than S-795 or other pure arabica types and has more occurrence of polyembryo, that is, elephant beans. I have found S-288 planted in SulawesiSulawesi coffees are low-acid with great body and that deep, brooding cup profile akin to Sumatra. The coffee is sometimes known as Celebes, which was the Dutch colonial... ...more, but not SumatraIndonesians are available as a unique wet-hulled or dry-hulled (washed) coffees. Giling Basah is the name for the wet-hulling process in Bahasa language, and will have more body... ...more.

S-795 = S-Line = Jember.   S795 was introduced in the 1950s to the Jember Research facility as a selection cultivated by the India Coffee Research. This variety was created by crossing the Kent cultivarCultivar is a term used interchangeably with Varietal in the coffee trade to indicate plant material, although there are distinctions.: The naming of a cultivar should conform to... ...more and the S288, a natural hybrid between C. Arabica and C. Liberica from the Doobla EstateA "coffee estate" is used to imply a farm that has its own processing facility, a wet-mill. In Spanish this is called an Hacienda. A Finca (farm) does... ...more in India. It had some Coffee Lear Rust (CLRCastillo is a selection of the Colombia cultivar that has become the most commonly grown coffee in Colombia. It is preferred to the older resistant variety, Variedad Colombia... ...more) resistance but has widely lost it, and is one of the main cultivars in Sulawesi.  Some sources say the name Jember does not refer to S-795 but rather its component S-288.  S-795 is referred to also as “1934” which I assume is the date of its release in India, as it did not come to IndonesiaUSDA is (obviously) the United States Department of Agriculture. USDA also had coffee plant breeding programs in the past and one variety they distributed to Indonesia and was... ...more until later.

KomastiKomasti is a disease resistant hybrid in Indonesia- (Composite Andungsari 3).  This is an improved catimor variety released in 2013. The genotypes were obtained from the results of... ...more – (Composite Andungsari 3).  This is an improved catimor variety released in 2013. The genotypes were obtained from the results of the selection on 136 host trees at the population of F2-F4 ‘Catimor’ generation which was introduced from coffee research centers of several countries.

Sigarar UtangAn improved Ateng selection of Timor variety with Bourbon reportedly. The specifics are a little doubtful (Timor x Bourbon) as it is not the result of a plant... ...more.  An improved Ateng selection of Timor variety with Bourbon reportedly. The specifics are a little doubtful (Timor x Bourbon) as it is not the result of a plant breeding program, but a selection from North Sumatra, Tapanuli area. It was said to be discovered in 1988 in a coffee farm owned by Opung Opan located in Batu Gajah Hamlet, North Paraningan Village, Lintongnihuta District according to local farmers. What is sure is that Sigarar Utang translates as “Repay The Debt!” in Batak language.

Ateng Super = Ateng Jeluk = Ateng.  Ateng stands for “Aceh Tengah” the Regency of Lake  Takengon. Also called Ateng Super, it is a selection from a single dwarf tree found on a farm in Kecamatan Silih Narah, Aceh that produced well, and spread among farmers. It is also called Ateng Jeluk or Ateng Jaluk.

Sidikalang.  A coffee name based on location: It is a Typica from North Sumatra, the Regency of Diari.

Belawan PusumahAnother local Indonesia Typica type in Aceh and North Sumatra. See the comments under Typica (Bergendal), but basically it was originally called Pusumah by PJS Cramer, and was... ...more.  Another local Typica type in Aceh and North Sumatra. See the comments under Typica below, but basically, it was originally called Pusumah by PJS Cramer, and was further selected when planted at Belawan, a spelling of Blawan, in East Java.

Andungsari.  Known to be a catimor selection. In my experience has a nice cup quality. There are some nice plantings of pure Andungsari in Java Sunda and Central Java, and a little in Aceh.

Typica = BergendalBergendal or  Bergendahl Variety, an old Typica type coffee. In the 17th century, coffee plants originating in Yemen and transiting to India were ultimately introduced to the colony... ...more = Bergendahl.  There are a host of names for old Typica types here. In the 17th century, coffee plants originating in YemenYemen has a coffee culture like no other place, and perhaps some of what we enjoy in this cup is due to their old style of trade...: Technically,... ...more and transiting to India were ultimately introduced to the colony near Batavia (Jakarta) by the Dutch. The first attempt to bring seeds failed, and they were brought again. They were initially planted outside Batavia and also  Buitenzorg (Bogor) in West Java. Later, coffee spread to other areas, and plantations were established in East Java, Central Java, West Java, in parts of Sumatra (Aceh and North Sumatra) and Sulawesi. There were three main Typica types but they may have been different names for the same: Bergendal, for those varietals which were planted in Sumatra, and now less than 5% of Sumatran coffee), Java Typica for those near Batavia and Bogor, and Belawan Pasumah (BLP, which was planted in the Blawan Pasumah village on the Ijen Plateau in East Java). Typica was largely wiped out in the 1880s by a coffee leaf fungus, and Robusta coffee and tea was planted in its place in Java. However, some of the Typica varietals which were planted at high altitudes North Sumatra survived, and in pockets of West Java. In FloresFlores is an Indonesian island, and as a coffee bears more resemblance to the coffees of Timor-Leste, New Guinea and Java than to the wet-hulled coffees of Sumatra... ...more, it is called Juria.

P88.  A Colombian Catimor that went to Thailand via KenyaKenya is the East African powerhouse of the coffee world. Both in the cup, and the way they run their trade, everything is topnotch.: Kenya is the East... ...more, and is not widely planted in Indonesia. It can be found in some test gardens and was part of the 1980s Dutch variety trial in Aceh.

There is a video of some of these varieties in our various Travelogue Videos on Youtube, including the most recent: Aceh in October