Yemeni Coffeeby Dr. Import, Switzerland

Varieties and market names

In Yemen, the name on the bag usually tells you a place, not a plant. Both matter, and they are easy to confuse.

Ask for a Colombian and you might be offered Caturra or Castillo — actual plant varieties. Ask for a Yemeni and you will be offered Mattari, Sanani or Hirazi, which are trade names built on geography. Underneath them sit landraces: local populations of arabica that farmers have propagated from their own seed for centuries.

The three market names

NameWhere it comes fromTypical character
Mokha MattariBani Matar district, west of Sana'aDeep chocolate, dried fruit, heavy body, low bright acidity
Mokha SananiThe wider highlands around Sana'aBalanced, spiced, winey; the most consistent of the three
Mokha HiraziThe Haraz mountainsFloral and fruit-forward, cleaner, often the highest cupping scores

The landraces underneath

These names describe the trees themselves. A single terrace often carries several of them mixed together, which is one reason Yemeni lots taste layered rather than uniform.

  • Udaini — the most widely planted. Balanced, reliable, good body.
  • Tuffahi — literally 'apple-like'. Rounder cherries, a sweeter and brighter cup.
  • Dawairi — 'round'. Compact beans, often the most floral and delicate.
  • Jaadi — hardy and drought-tolerant, planted at lower and drier sites; earthier and heavier.
  • Burai — a smaller regional population, usually found blended rather than sold separately.

Which one to order

For a first order, Sanani is the safest introduction: it shows the origin's character without the extremes. Choose Hirazi if you are looking for a competition-grade single origin and are prepared to pay for it. Choose Mattari if you want the classic heavy, chocolate-and-raisin profile that most people mean when they say 'mocha'.

All three are available green for roasting or roasted to your profile. Quantities and current availability on request.

Coffee prices move every week. Ask us for today's.

We quote green and roasted Yemeni coffee per lot, against the current harvest and the day's freight and exchange rates. Tell us the origin, the quantity and when you need it, and you get a written offer.

We answer in German, French, Italian, English and Arabic, normally within one working day.