The Goraa Natural is produced at the Suke Drying Station station in Shaakkiso, Guji, which falls under the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. This area is oftentimes mistakenly known as Sidamo Guji, but instead should be known only as Guji Zone or East-Guji on its own. The approximately 23 farmers that deliver coffee cherries to this washing station come from the ‘kebele’ or village known as Uddo Hadammaa have between 2.5 and 3 Ha of land, and their farms sit at an elevation of between 2,000 and 2,200 m.a.s.l. These producers generally grow the 74110 and 74112 varieties, which are local varieties selected for their production and disease resistance. Goraa is the name of a tree or bush that produces wild berries, a bush quite common in the area and forests of the region
This coffee was processed by Sookoo Coffee, which is run by Ture Waji, also known as “The King of Guji”! While this particular lot comes from Shaakkiso, Ture and his company Sookoo Coffee also have another washing station in Uraga. Both drying stations currently only produce natural coffees, but washed coffees are in the plans for upcoming harvests. Ture has strong connections to the land, its community and farmers, as he grew up in the region. After studying, he started as an export and farm manager at his cousin’s farm and company Mormora, and then later at Guji Highlands Coffee. Thanks to the trade and coffee liberalization in Ethiopia, he was able to start Sookoo Coffee (formerly known as Dambi Uddo), building his first drying station and exporting his first coffee under his own brand in 2018.
