Certified organic, shade grown, and Fair Trade. Ermera is an area of Timor-Leste (formerly called East Timor) with a long tradition of coffee growing and was the site of the main coffee plantation when Timor was occupied by the Portuguese. Timor won independence from Indonesia in 1999, and the economy is slowly being rebuilt thanks in part to a growing coffee trade. Thanks to Fair Trade prices, the poverty stricken members of the CCT cooperative (Cooperativa Café Timor) have access to free health care, which has saved many lives since the program started. The Ermera is a very clean coffee similar to the better wet processed Javas. It has a satisfying full body but also some delicate flavors and aromas reminiscent of a fine Yirgacheffe. With its rich sweetness, earthy spicy accents, and fruity nose this is a great coffee to drink strong and black, just like the growers in Timor-Leste prefer to drink it. We like the Ermera roasted to a City or Full city, but with its full body it holds up well to a dark roast.