Myanmar has only recently been creating specialty coffees but is doing so with impressive speed and results. Hopong was able to organise coffee farmers from two villages in just one year and collectively process their very first batch of sun dried natural coffee.
Fed up with secretly producing opium for druglords while being prosecuted by authorities on the one hand, and selling poorly processed coffee to brokers and middlemen on the other, the Hopong farmers started looking for a new way of life. Through social media, they learned that other farms were receiving aid from an NGO on how to create high quality naturals. They took a major leap of faith and fully embraced specialty coffee production and become truly independent.
Sun dried natural process - Cherries are hand picked by Hopong community members in the early hours of the day. Once collection is finished, members delivers cherries to Hopong drying stations. On delivery, cherries are screened and handpicked to about 95% cherry ripeness level. Fully ripe cherries are then placed on raised beds. Slow drying is a priority and drying times range between 13-17 days depending on weather conditions. All lots are separated by day and all members’ deliveries are fully traceable.
VARIETY – Catimor, Caturra, Bourbon
REGION - Hopong
FARM – Hta Pha Yar Village
PROCESS – Natural
ALTITUDE – 1100-1600
NOTES - thick banana sweetness, melon, nougat, bakers chocolate
