Historic origin of the coffee trade, with heirloom arabica on terraced highlands. Natural lots tend toward dried fruit, dark chocolate and syrupy body.
Yemen's coffee history goes back to Sufi monks in the 15th century, and the country held a near-monopoly on the trade through the port of Mocha for well over a century. Coffee is grown in the western and southwestern highlands at about 1,500 to 2,500 m, on terraced hillsides worked by small family farms. Natural processing dominates, with whole cherries dried on rooftops. Heirloom varieties include Tuffahi, Dawairi and Udaini, but these are local names rather than genetic types: a 2020 survey of 148 farms found Udaini in about a third of the answers, and DNA tests put trees with the same name in different genetic groups. Harvest is listed as October-December in Hoffmann's governorate table and October-March by the importer Cafe Imports, as relayed by Jayarr Coffee. Cups are described as deep stone fruit, dark chocolate and tamarind with low to medium acidity and a syrupy body. Conflict since 2015 has raised costs and cut supply.
History
Sufi monks in 15th-century Yemen are the first documented coffee drinkers. For well over a century Yemen held a near-monopoly on the coffee trade, shipping through the port of Mocha, and the drink spread to Mecca, Cairo and Constantinople. Today small family farms grow heirloom varieties on ancient terraces, and conflict since 2015 has raised production costs and reduced supply.
Field notes
- i
Sufi monks in 15th-century Yemen are the first documented coffee drinkers, using it to stay alert during night prayers.
- ii
Yemen held a near-monopoly on the global coffee trade for well over a century, shipping through the Red Sea port of Mocha. In 1721 Mocha supplied about 90 percent of the coffee sold in Amsterdam and by 1726 Java supplied about 90 percent, according to historian Jonathan Morris as reported by Jayarr Coffee.
- iii
Whole cherries are dried on rooftops for several weeks, which concentrates the fruit sugars.
- iv
A 2020 survey of 148 farms in five governorates found Udaini was the most cited local name (34 percent), yet trees with the same name fell into different genetic groups. Two groups trace to SL34 and Typica/Bourbon, and the third, found only in Yemen, is called New-Yemen and was formerly called Yemenia.
- v
Yemen marks a national Yemeni Coffee Day on 3 March to encourage cultivation.
Where it growsMountainous Arabian Peninsula. Coffee is grown in the western and southwestern highlands at about 1,500 to 2,500 m.
In the cup, according to guides
- Dried fruitOften notedDried cherry, prune and fig are described as typical.
- ChocolateOften notedDark chocolate notes are described.
- BodyMoreDescribed as having a syrupy body.
- AcidityLessAcidity is described as low to medium, unlike bright Ethiopian coffees.
Regions of Yemen
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Prized western mountain area near Sana'a, at about 1,500 to 2,300+ m, described as berry-sweet and wine-like with a syrupy body.
- Bani Matar
Highland area next to Haraaz at about 1,800 to 2,200 m, described as dark-fruited, tamarind-like and earthy-spiced.
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Two districts west of Sana'a, Inner and Outer Haymah, where farmers most often name their coffee Udaini.
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Highlands around the capital whose Sanani coffee is described as ripe-fruited with dark chocolate and a clean finish.
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Northern highland governorate, among Yemen's main coffee highlands. Naturally processed lots can cup caramel- and chocolate-toned.
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Southern highland governorate whose smallholder arabica is reported at roughly 1,900 m and up, naturally processed and dried on rooftops.
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Southwestern highland governorate near Mokha. Bani Hammad lots are naturally processed on raised beds at around 1,450 m.
How it is usually processed
Species
- Coffea arabica100%
Sources · 6 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-11-11.
- Yemeni Coffee: History, Regions and What Makes It Unique · Hamdan Coffee
- Yemeni Coffee Regions Explained: Haraaz, Bani Matar and Sanani · Hamdan Coffee
- Arabic Coffee Traditions · Wikipedia
- Yemeni Coffee · Wikipedia
- Vernacular Names and Genetics of Cultivated Coffee (Coffea arabica) in Yemen · Agronomy (MDPI), Montagnon, Rossi, Guercio, Sheibani
- Yemen Coffee: The Port of Mocha, the First Coffee Farms and How It Tastes Today · Jayarr Coffee