OBSIDIAN STAR, Ethiopia

Strawberry, Vanilla, Hibiscus

Obsidian Star is grown near the kebele of Werka in the Nensebo woreda of Ethiopia's West Arsi Zone, and processed by the natural method at the Gara Kone washing station, one of twenty-six stations run by the family-owned Testi Coffee. At 2,020 MASL, Gara Kone takes in fresh cherry each day from seven to eight hundred independent outgrowers across the surrounding hills.

Most contributing families farm organically on plots under two hectares, with coffee growing alongside corn, grain and banana beneath native Birbira, Wanza and Acacia shade. Farm elevations climb from 1,950 to 2,150 MASL, and the cool, high air draws cherry ripening out slowly, building denser beans and a sweeter, more layered cup.

This lot was drawn from Testi's Premium Cherry Selection program, which pays a premium for only the ripest fruit and yields the cleanest, highest-grade coffee in the region. Dried with care as a Grade 1 natural, it carries strawberry, vanilla and hibiscus.