Ethiopia Gedeb — Lalesa Natural

Origin & Producer Details

• Region: Lalesa, Gedeb — Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

• Producers: Smallholder farmers near Lalesa

• Processing Site: Lalesa Drying Station

• Elevation: 2,150–2,200 MASL

• Process: Natural

• Drying: 14 days on African raised beds

• Farming System: Traditional agroforestry

The Gedeo Landscape & People

Coffee from Lalesa is grown within one of the most remarkable agricultural systems in the world. The Gedeo people have practiced a unique form of agroforestry for thousands of years, a system so intact and culturally significant that it has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In this system, coffee grows beneath layered canopies of shade trees and indigenous enset (false banana), creating a dense, living forest where nature and agriculture coexist. Much of the region remains natural forest, protected not only by geography but by deeply rooted cultural institutions such as the Songo and Ballee systems. Large areas of land are designated as sacred, ensuring long-term environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Coffee here is not simply cultivated — it is integrated into daily life, tradition, and landscape.

Processing at Lalesa

Ripe cherry for this lot is sourced from smallholder farms surrounding the Lalesa drying station. Once delivered:

1. Cherry is placed in floating tanks to remove underripe fruit (quakers).

2. The coffee is then laid out on African raised drying beds.

3. Cherries dry naturally under the sun for approximately 14 days, allowing slow, even moisture reduction.

This careful natural process preserves fruit character while maintaining clarity and balance in the cup.

Ama Commitment — Investing in Women & Families

Lalesa is also home to the Ama Commitment initiative, which translates from the local Gedeo language as “the mother’s commitment.” The project began as an effort to support women-owned coffee farms in the region by ensuring women had direct ownership over their coffee income.

Early efforts focused on:

• Establishing bank accounts in women’s names

• Providing pre-financing

• Offering quality training

• Donating drying beds and slow-drying infrastructure

The program has since expanded to support the next generation through the creation of childcare centers in both Idido and Lalesa. These centers allow young children to receive early care and education while enabling mothers to focus on farm and harvest work during the busiest months — strengthening both household income and community stability.

A New Site, Built With Purpose

The Lalesa site itself was developed recently, built on previously unused land. Since its establishment, the project has added a warehouse and over 400 drying beds, creating local employment and a dedicated space for quality-focused processing during harvest.

Why This Coffee Matters

This Natural from Lalesa represents more than exceptional growing conditions — it reflects:

• Ancient agroforestry practices

• Cultural protection of natural forests

• Smallholder resilience and knowledge

• Women-centered economic empowerment

• Careful, intentional natural processing

It’s a coffee shaped by ecology, culture, and community — an expression of Gedeb’s living forest and the people who steward it.