Rabbit Hole Roasters - Kaku, China, Washed

Impressions: cherry, almond, vanilla, cacao
Country: China
Province: Yunnan
Region: Menglien
Manage/farmer: Ms Nanu
Altitude: 1400 masl
Variety: Catimor
Process: washed
Partner importer: Yunnan Coffee Traders

Kaku is a staple of our menu and we are proud to be working so closely with Yunnan Coffee Traders to offer something classic in taste, yet different, to the Canadian market.

This coffee is unique, yet feels classic and approachable with notes that reminded us of cherries, almonds, vanilla and cacao. It's almost sparkling at time and can remind us of cherry cola, and the faster brews are full of red grapes notes.

We were the first to bring Yunnan specialty coffee to Canada and we will continue to dive deep in this emerging origin as we progress in our roasting journey.

Kaku is in a Wa region bordering Myanmar. Traditionally, the Wa people lived mid mountain, with the Dai living on the plain level and the Lahu higher up. The name Kaku is the new name we will use since the farmers decided it was what represented the coffee best. Kaku is a reference to the Lahu people who pick this coffee.

In 1998, a severe frost killed 90% of the cherries, making lots of farmers abandon coffee production altogether. Ms Nanu persevered and now offers what might well be the cleanest and tastiest washed coffees in all of Yunnan.

The Wa people have a close relationship to the land, and they are always looking for new processing techniques with what is available to them. We can't wait to keep exploring that with them.