Laclo

Timor-Leste has a fascinating and long coffee history. Coffee was first cultivated in the early 19th century while the territory was under Portuguese colonial rule. The Portuguese had arrived for sandalwood but after they exhausted the supply, coffee became the primary export. In the 1920’s a spontaneous interspecific cross between robusta and arabica was discovered, Hibrido de Timor. This became the genetic foundation for almost all leaf rust resistant varieties world wide.

Timor's total production is relatively small at around 160,000 bags or 550 containers in a good year. The local market is dominated by a duopoly of exporters that account for nearly 80% of the total exports. Timor’s production is primarily commercial grade arabica, with small volumes of robusta and comparatively tiny volumes of specialty. Despite it’s incredible potential, Timor’s coffee industry has staggered particularly in recent times of war and ensuing political, economic and social volatility.

This exceptional coffee is the result of the hard work of 542 smallholder farmers in Aileu, Timor-Leste. These passionate growers, working on farms averaging just 0.5 hectares, are dedicated to producing high-quality cherries. Their commitment, along with centralised processing at a mill in Gleno, transforms their careful handpicking into an excellent natural coffee.

The Timor Hybrid varietal flourishes at the high altitudes of Aileu, between 1,550 and 1,600 meters above sea level. Grown under the shade of casuarina trees, this varietal benefits from the ideal conditions of the region, resulting in beans with a distinctive flavour profile marked by fruit-forward notes and a velvety smoothness.