Tribes of Mokha presents a limited-edition Yemeni pour-over from their auction series, characterized by depth, sweetness, and a very distinctive character. Notes of white flowers, black tea, caramel, and dates unfold in the cup, giving the coffee a delicately aromatic profile that is also rich and sweet. This is not a coffee built on sharp citrus acidity or a dramatic burst of fruit, but rather on ripeness, depth, and a highly refined profile—qualities that make Yemeni lots so appealing. It’s a cup that functions more as a focused experience than as a carefree everyday coffee.
The coffee comes from Yemen, from the Hayma Dakhiliya region west of the Sana’a Governorate. It is a mountainous region known for its rugged landscape, nearly impassable roads, and villages scattered high on the slopes. Approximately 83,000 people live in the entire area, and about 400 families grow coffee here, along with corn, potatoes, and qat. Local farms are situated on fertile soil rich in minerals and natural groundwater reserves, which is essential under local conditions. The coffee trees here are often very old—some over a hundred years old—and it is precisely their adaptation to the demanding mountain climate that produces coffee of exceptional quality with a distinctly fruity, fresh character. This lot is among the winning entries of the “Best of Yemen” auction organized by the Alliance for Coffee Excellence, which further underscores its exceptional quality.
The coffee is processed using the natural method. After harvest, the cherries are dried whole, so the beans remain in contact with the pulp for a longer period, gradually absorbing its sugars and aromatic compounds. This is precisely what translates into the final cup as date-like sweetness, a caramel base, and a tea-like, spicy finish that feels very harmonious and focused. The result is a filter-processed tea that combines floral elegance, Yemeni depth, and a sweet, darker character into a very precise and powerful flavor profile. The lot size is 110 pounds, which further emphasizes the limited and exclusive nature of this entire auction edition.