Jebena Nekemte

Nekemte is a town in the Wallaga region of western Ethiopia, which gives its name to this coffee appellation. This region, close to the border with Sudan, is characterised by a rich environment in which coffee has been grown for several centuries. Coffee was first consumed within the family circle, then external demand in the late XIX and early XX centuries played a part in the boom of coffee growing in this region. Known as Nekemte in the Oromo language, and Lekempti in Amharic (the national language of Ethiopia), it is a simple coffee with a fruity, spicy profile. The beans are usually elongated, known as 'long berry'. Endemic coffee varieties, identified by the Jimma Research Centre, are found in this region: Sende, Haru 1, Challa and Manasibu.