A unique and Rare Crop from Classic Growing Region Creates Starbucks Newest Exclusive Coffee
From the region that is the source for Starbucks best-selling single origin coffee comes a rare find in the coffee fields of a small town in Sumatra. Starbucks Coffee introduces Black Apron Exclusives™ Sumatra Siborong-Borong, available for a limited time only at selected stores in the Middle East.
The newest addition to the special line of Black Apron Exclusives™ coffees, Sumatra Siborong-Borong produces the flavour qualities of its Asia/Pacific heritage, but consists of a very distinct and limited crop from a small town on the southern shores of Lake Toba, called Siborong-Borong. In Sumatra, where coffee is grown in rural backyard gardens, nearly all of this coffee is blended prior to export, making the flavours very special, offering the distinct flavour profile of a semi-washed Indonesian coffee, yielding full body and earthy notes. But what makes Sumatra Siborong-Borong especially extraordinary is its soft acidity, intense flavour and surprising herbal complexities with fresh basil notes.
“Sumatra has been part of Starbucks‘ history for a quarter century, used in both blends and as a single-origin offering. In Sumatra, coffee is grown in abundance, nearly all is blended together prior to export. That is why Sumatra Siborong-Borong is very special as it‘s only available in a single offering not blended with any other coffee. Through Starbucks‘ relationships with farmers and exporters, Starbucks was able to obtain coffee grown in a single community and reserved this small batch to Starbucks customers. Starbucks Alshaya is delighted and honoured to share this coffee with coffee lovers in the region,” said Antoun Abou Jaoude, Marketing Manager for Starbucks Coffee Middle East.
Sumatra Siborong-Borong is grown in Lake Toba‘s most-prized coffee-growing area. The microclimate, volcanic soil, high-altitude and coffee stewardship helped produce this exceptional coffee. The climate is wet, so farmers must take extra care to protect the beans from moisture damage by delivering them to a centrally located mill the morning after harvest.
The Black Apron Exclusives™ coffees are named for Starbucks most knowledgeable buyers, roasters, tasters and Coffee Masters, who wear black aprons in the tasting rooms and in Starbucks coffeehouses. These coffees represent Starbucks expertise in coffee and dedication to the farmers who grow it. Black Apron Exclusives™ coffees are rare and intriguing, available in very limited supply and designed to appeal to people looking to experience truly unique and exotic flavours.
Starbucks awards US$15,000 for each Black Apron Exclusives™ coffee to help fund projects that support their communities, their environment and coffee sustainability. This award will be used to build three village clinics in Siborong-Borong coffee-producing areas. These new clinics will provide improved health care on a daily basis, benefiting approximately 3,000 of the area‘s residents.
“Sumatra Siborong-Borong is a C.A.F.E. (Coffee & Farmers Equity) Practices-verified coffee, ensuring the sustainable supply of high-quality coffee and preservation of farmers‘ rights where the coffee is sourced. Many people love Sumatra coffee, but few have ever experienced Sumatran flavours like these. This coffee beautifully packaged in a unique die-cut box is a rare treat, available only at selected Starbucks Alshaya stores across the Middle East. Customers can help support coffee-farming communities around the world by purchasing our Black Apron Exclusive coffees,” added Abou Jaoude.
Source: www.albawaba.com (20 September 2007)
