Kenawat
Indonesia, Sumatra, Gayo
Fahman’s Yoga Story
Fahman Yoga is a former professional footballer who he has joined forces with Adena Coffee to promote coffee from his native village, Kenawat. Fahman owns a farm, but this batch also comes from the production of nearby farmers. All these farms are shaded by 2 to 5 different tree species, and thus produce agroforestry coffees. Harvesting is done by hand, as is sorting. Drying is then carried out on patio…a real challenge in such a humid region!
making Aceh a coffee-producing region that counts again
Kenawat’s Redemption
Adena’s work in Kenawat is important because the village was severely affected by the armed conflict between the government and the Free Aceh independence movement. These events contributed to the stigmatization of Kenawat and Aceh as a dangerous area, keeping coffee buyers away. Adena started to collect and process coffees from local growers with Fahman Yoga. Together, they produce quality coffees, and their work is enabling young people in Kenawat to return to growing quality coffee, and making Aceh a coffee-producing region that counts.
through conflicts and tsunamis
the fertile lands of Lake Laut Tawar
The Aceh conflict, a struggle that spanned nearly three decades, arose from a combination of historical, political, and economic grievances. Aceh, a region rich in natural resources and a proud history of independence, has long considered itself distinct from the rest of Indonesia.
Kenawat, located in the fertile lands of Laut Tawar Lake, holds a unique place in Aceh’s history.
The people of Kenawat, though uninvolved in the fighting, were caught in the crossfire.
Military presence in the area imposed severe restrictions on daily life. Villagers were not allowed to access their coffee farms without registering at military checkpoints.
This limitation forced the villagers to abandon their coffee farms, leaving them overgrown and untended.
The devastating tsunami of 2004, became a catalyst for change in Aceh. The tragedy drew global attention to the region, paving the way for peace negotiations.
In 2005, the conflict officially ended with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Helsinki, Finland. This peace agreement allowed the people of Aceh to finally begin rebuilding their lives.
For Kenawat, however, the journey was far from easy. The stigma of being a “conflict village” lingered, discouraging buyers from returning despite the village’s immense potential as a coffee-producing region. This conflict meant far more than political instability. It meant fear, displacement, and loss. Roads were left empty, and coffee buyers stopped coming, deterred by the stigma that Kenawat and other areas like it became synonymous with: hard to touch, danger and unrest.
through hardships to the stars
Community’s resilience
Adena Coffee saw the untapped potential of Kenawat and the strength of its people.
By partnering with Fahman Yoga, a native son of Kenawat, they have worked tirelessly to restore its coffee farms and revive the community’s spirit. With sustainable farming practices, training programs, and market access initiatives, they have aimed to provide a renewed sense of pride for the people of Kenawat.
By embracing Kenawat’s coffee, we honor its rich heritage and help rewrite its narrative from one of conflict to one of hope and excellence.
Every cup of coffee carries the story of resilience and the indomitable spirit of the people who cultivate it. Kenawat’s journey reminds us of the Gayo proverb: “Gajah bertengkar, rumput yang mati“ when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.
While the conflict may have shaped the past, it is the people, like those of Kenawat, who bear its consequences.
Yet, their resilience has proven that even in the face of immense hardship, transformation is possible.
Some data
- Processing: Wet hulled anaerobic
- Harvest: March – April
- Drying: on Patios
- Altitude: 1.100 m asl
