Matari

Matari is a single-variety Arabica coffee cultivated in the Bani Matter area of Sana’a Governorate. It grows on pyramidal, small-sized trees in terraced mountains, intermountain plains, and valleys, developing its character under bright, sunny conditions with minimal shade. Farmers nurture the trees using composted animal manure and forest leaves, particularly from Acacia species, while pest control relies on traditional smoke from dry Ficus salicifolia wood. Harvested by hand between October and March, the cherries are sun-dried, hulled, sorted, and graded to produce an organic, specialty-grade green coffee with a clean, bright flavor and nuanced aromatic profile. The coffee grows at altitudes of 2,000 to 2,400 meters, with annual rainfall of 200 to 300 millimeters, in sandy loam soils with a pH around 8. Trees are planted at densities ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 per hectare, irrigated by rain, springs, wells, spate systems, and caravans. Production covers 68.5 hectares, involving 98 farmers from 81 households, with coffee contributing 70 to 80 percent of household income.