The most famous region of Sulawesi (formerly Celebes) is Toraja, located high in the Sesean Mountains and the epicenter of coffee production in the country. The Torajan people are an insular tribe that has managed to maintain their cultural identity, reflected in their language, elaborate social customs, and religion. They build their homes—called Tongkonans—in the shape of the massive ships that carried them to Sulawesi centuries ago.
The careful craftmanship and attention to detail evident in these homes is also present in their coffee. Toraja is infamous for producing one of the best Arabica coffees in the world. The PKOT cooperative consists of 570 farmers, all of whom tend to small, 1-hectare plots known as gardens. Coffee in the region is still harvested the way is always has been—organically.
To ensure luck, health, and prosperity for the farming families, the coffee bags are all marked with a Bariallo, the symbol of the sun for the Torajan people.
Region: Toraja, Sulawesi
Altitude: 1,400—1,900 meters
Varietal: Bourbon, Paces, Pacamara
Farm/Co-op: Co-op
Process: Washed, sun-dried
Tasting Notes: Full rich body, low acidity, spicy, sweet and smoky
