Indonesian Mandailing Coffee Favorite Specialty Coffee of Erna Knutzen
On the 26th edition of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), which is held between 24 and 27 April 2014 in the Washington Convention Center (Seattle), Erna Knutsen - who introduced the term 'specialty coffee' in 1974 in an issue of the Tea & Coffee Trade Journal and is the founder of Knutsen Coffees Ltd - said that Mandailing coffee (a specialty coffee from Sumatra) is her favorite specialty coffee. Knutsen received the Life Achievement Award at the SCAA on the opening night of the event.
Mandailing coffee is named after the Mandailing people in North Sumatra. The Indonesian delegation said that the Remarkable Indonesia pavilion at the SCAA event presented 34 types of Indonesian specialty coffee from six islands, namely Sumatra, Java, Bali, Sulawesi, Flores and Papua. Specialty coffees from Indonesia have their own uniqueness. For example, the traditional processing method known as wet hulling is what makes Indonesian coffee beans to have a bluish color. Indonesian specialty coffees are also rich in flavor and each region has its own characteristic taste, as well as a varied level of acidity. However, Indonesian coffee farmers should be taught more knowledge about farming techniques in order to improve and optimize the production and quality of coffee. This will then increase the value of the coffee.
The Indonesian ambassador to the USA, Budi Bowoleksono, emphasized the importance of synergy between the central government, local governments and business in order to enhance the Indonesian coffee sector. He also underlined the importance of improving the welfare of coffee farmers.
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