East Timor Coffee History East Timor Coffee Variety introduction is East Timor Coffee good

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While East Timor's image as a coffee producer remains somewhat bleak, the country's history as a coffee producer is unique and its prospects as a specialty coffee producer are great. Coffee was introduced to East Timor in the 1860s by the Portugal. It quickly became a major export (replacing sandalwood) and by the mid-1860s accounted for at least 50% of the colony's total exports. However, all of these products are owned by a small number of Portugal landowners and local communities are involved only in harvesting. When Indonesia took control of the land in the mid-1970s, coffee was no longer the focus of attention, and coffee production in East Timor declined sharply. Taiwan held a referendum on independence in 1999 and achieved full independence in 2002. Since then, with international assistance, the coffee sector has been rapidly rebuilt and coffee now accounts for about 80 per cent of East Timor's total exports and is the country's only cash crop.

When it comes to coffee, another factor that makes East Timor stand out is that it has its own blend of coffee-Timor hybrid coffee-dating back to before World War II. Timor hybrid (commonly referred to as Tim Tim or HDT) is a highly disease-resistant and high-yielding variety produced by natural mating of a Robusta and Arabica plant and is currently cultivated worldwide. Timor hybridization also forms the trunk of the famous Catimor and Sarchimor varieties.

Coffee production conditions in East Timor are not ideal in many ways. The arid climate and short rainy season further complicate the naturally low soil fertility in many coffee-producing areas of the country. Still, China is rapidly improving quality and productivity. Most coffee in this country is passive organic coffee because fertilizers and pesticides have never been introduced and 100% of coffee is grown in shade. Moreover, even the smallest improvements can yield huge results. Several projects are currently under way, many funded by international development organizations, which will fundamentally change the way coffee is harvested and processed in East Timor. Coupled with increased government investment in infrastructure-such as building new roads to ensure easier movement of goods-East Timor will become a reliable producer of quality, multipurpose coffee.

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