Ethiopia Guji Sewda Natural

From the Sewda Washing Station, Benti Korba Kebele, Oddoo Shakiso Woreda, Guji, Oromia, Ethiopia — an NOP and EU Organic-certified site built specifically for natural (fruit-dried) processing, run by around 500 smallholder farmers growing heirloom varieties. Grown at 1,850–2,100 masl, harvested November through February.

The station's "Firē" lot (Amharic for "fruit") is built from a cherry mix of 85% well-ripe, 10% reddish-ripe, and 5% over-ripe fruit. Cherries are soaked in fresh water for 12 hours before drying — removing floaters and encouraging a honey-like sweetness — then dried on raised beds in thin 5cm layers, in a low-sun, high-wind spot that keeps drying even over about 15 days.

Tasting notes: Cherry and pomegranate up front, giving way to dark chocolate. Flavors of cherry and mixed red fruits, with honey, dark chocolate, and orange in the aftertaste. Mild citric acidity, creamy, heavy body.