YEMEN ZAMARRUD #1214

The country of Yemen lies at the heart of our modern relationship with coffee. The port of Mocha, once the historical center of coffee trade, is now synonymous with our favorite coffee-and-chocolate combo. Like parts of neighboring Ethiopia, Yemen's arid climate and scarce water supply encourages natural processing; for centuries, Yemen coffee has been spread out under the sky for three sun-baked days of drying. This results in a cup of wine-like fruit and rich spice, a unique and sought-after profile unlike any other.

Until recently, Yemen coffee has been unavailable in the U.S. due to conflict in the region and difficulties with production and export. Lucky for us, Herkimer Coffee has a direct relationship with Rayyan Mill, a group founded in 2011 with the mission of reintroducing fine Yemen coffee to the world. They source their beans from small growers in the remote Hajja region; this blend is their Zamarrud Al-Yemen, "Emeralds of Yemen", a regional blend that's designed to showcase Yemen's traditional coffee profile.

This is Herkimer's 8th year buying Yemeni beans directly from Rayyan Mill. Every year, I eagerly await the news from Herkimer that this super-limited lot has arrived. Smooth, sweet, and spicy all at once, this unique and complex roast is a beautiful showcase of what coffee from this region is all about. Yemeni coffee is one of coffee's rare unicorns, nearly impossible to find, and once this small lot is gone, it'll be another year until the opportunity arises again. Don't hesitate! Reserve your bag of Herkimer's Yemen Zamarrud today, and don't miss your unique chance to experience a taste of one of the world's most unique, and romantic, coffee origins.