Ethiopia Bookkisa Natural

     Sookoo Coffee operates in Ethiopia, in the Guji zone of the Oromia region. While the western part of Guji is lush with forests and jungles, Sookoo is located on the more arid eastern side. The area is rich in minerals and gold, and heavy strip mining has led to major deforestation. Responsible coffee growing presents an opportunity to refresh the area’s landscape both economically and ecologically. “Sookoo” is the word in the local language for “gold” — and Ture believes coffee can be “the new gold,” revitalizing the land rather than exploiting it. Sookoo Coffee operates several drying stations high in the mountains outside Shakisso. They incentivize local farmers to sell top-quality coffee cherries by paying one to two birr higher per kilogram. Prices are arranged before harvest, so farmers know what to expect without need for haggling. Sookoo also offers training and financing for farmers, and schooling for kids, promoting education and improved coffee growing practices.
     This natural process offering comes from Bookkisa, a locality near the town of Shakisso in Southern Ethiopia, and represents about 35 farmers who are part of the group of Sookoo coffee growers. Natural processing methods complement the signature, fruit-forward flavor profile of this region’s coffee. We taste ripe red fruits such as strawberry, honey and milk chocolate in the cup.