“Karen Coffee” — for connoisseurs
The coffee trees of our Thai partner, the Raintree Foundation, grow in rainforests at 1,000 meters above sea level. Conditions here are perfect: large trees shield the delicate coffee plants from the sun. The high biodiversity, featuring various plants and birds, supports natural nutrient cycles in the soil, making artificial fertilizers unnecessary. The frequent rains from May to October help the coffee trees grow and produce abundant blossoms.
Carefully hand-picked
From mid-November to the end of February, conditions are ideal for harvesting. During this time, the coffee cherries are harvested manually by hand-picking. Workers walk through the fields every few days, picking the cherries in several passes. This special method ensures that only ripe cherries are selected while also protecting the plants.
After harvesting, the cherries are hulled. The fresh beans, still covered in pulp, are then fermented in cold mountain water for up to 48 hours. The beans are then placed on drying beds to dry gently in the sun for 20 to 30 days. Then they are sent to the warehouse for aging. And only shortly before the coffee roasters receive the coffee are the coffee beans separated from their final protective layer, the parchment. The beans are then sorted by weight and size and cleared of stones, twigs, and large debris.
The selected beans have the optimal moisture content of exactly 12 percent. This is checked at every stage of the drying process.
From Thailand to Switzerland
Swiss Marmot AG, based in Reiden, Lucerne, purchases the beans directly from the coffee farmers at very fair prices, without any middlemen.
The coffee is transported from the farms to Swiss warehouses in 25-kg bags. The bags are made of jute on the outside and lined with plastic on the inside to protect the beans from moisture. An experienced master roaster carefully roasts the beans in a drum so that the coffee can develop its full aroma and distinctive character.
Environmentally Friendly and Fair
The Thailand-based ACP partner, the Raintree Foundation, supports farmers in planting, tending, and harvesting, as well as in selling the coffee beans. The goal is to create a modern, environmentally friendly source of income that does not harm the rainforest. In the past, slash-and-burn farming was often used to grow rice and other staple foods. In slash-and-burn farming, a section of forest is cleared and set on fire, after which the land can be used for agriculture. When this harmful practice was banned by the government, many farmers didn't know what else to do.
Living out biblical values
But now they work together and learn everything about coffee, from planting to selling. In addition, they meet in the evenings to encourage one another and discuss their challenges. Together, they read the Bible to find answers to life's questions. This helps them maintain hope even in difficult times and live out biblical values.
Coffee farmers in northern Thailand face difficulties due to a lack of education, money, technology, and direct access to the global coffee market.
Helping local communities is important: when people learn to provide for themselves, they can also shape their own future. The Raintree Foundation's project focuses primarily on the Thai Karen hill tribes. Through the “Karen Coffee” project, the NGO helps this indigenous group sell their products and receive fair payment for their work.
