The concept of terroir in a coffee forest

For us, the idea of Terroir is very important in coffee. Unfortunately, we’ve noticed that this concept is not always well defined and is still abstract for some of us. As a definition, we can say that, in a coffee plantation forest:

A Terroir is a defined geographical area (the forest and its climatic, atmospheric and topographic conditions), in which men (producers) build a collective production knowledge (varieties, cultivation and processing techniques) which provides a unique sensory profile to the coffee, typically related to this area.

This definition may seem theoretical, but cupping the Wallagga’s coffees makes it all really concrete...! So why do we insist so much on valuing Ethiopian coffee forests, if many coffee plantations already offered by Belco are under shade grown? The answer is multiple and the issue is noble...

Preserving an exceptional Terroir

A forest coffee is, above all, a coffee produced under the natural and protective shade of a wild forest, settled on rich and fertile soils. Unlike other countries that plant trees only for their shade, here we have an agroforestry system. This ancient technique has been used in Ethiopia since more than 400 years ago and has several advantages for the environment:

• Soil conservation

The other trees protect the coffee plants by reducing the effects of winds, rains and extreme heats. By deeply sinking their roots into the soil, the trees also promote capillary water flow to the deep aquifers, to better withstand drought, but also to fight against water pollution and flooding. From an agronomic perspective, trees also help to fight against soil erosion.

• Inter-cropping

The coffee forests also allow inter-cropping. These secondary products such as timber or honey production are supplemental sources of income for the producers.

• Preservation of biodiversity

With an average of 10 to 15 tree species per forests in the well-preserved areas, these coffee forests help to preserve biodiversity. Indeed, this unique agroforestry system is highly related to coffee production and would probably not exist without it. The coffee production financially supports these forests and ensure the preservation of its diversified ecosystem, with a rich fauna and flora.

Involvement of producers

Belco values producers who protect their traditional knowledge and local wild varieties now abandoned for new seeds. By working over the long term with the producers of this area, we are helping to preserve a land and bring out the best of what it has to offer benefiting from coffees with incredible flavor profiles. By importing these coffees, we also help to create value added for local producers directly improving the living standards of their families.

The coffees from Wallagga will arrive in a few weeks at Belco and we look forward for you to discover how exceptional this Terroir is…

The Belco team