88	Joe Van Gogh Hillsborough, North Carolina Organic Fair-Trade Timor Roast: Medium Review Date: February 2010 Origin: East Timor. Price: NA

Blind Assessment: Earth, nut and chocolate in the balanced aroma. In the cup a lemony, slightly bitter acidity, silky, lightly syrupy mouthfeel, and a simple, crisp flavor with continued earth, nut and chocolate complications. A rich, sweet finish fades to mild astringency.

Notes: Certified organic and Fair Trade, meaning this coffee was purchased from small-holding farmers at a "fair" or economically sustainable price. East Timor shares the island of Timor with Indonesia. Mainly Catholic and Portuguese-speaking East Timor was much in the news in the late 1990s when it finally achieved independence from Indonesia after a complex, bloody struggle that began with its forcible annexation by its giant neighbor. Timor's coffee industry staged a persuasive recovery from the ravages of that struggle before the country experienced new political and social disorders in 2006 through 2008. Timor's coffee production is dominated by small-holding peasant farmers, and produces a cup that is an interesting variant on the sweet, earthy/pungent style of small-producer coffees elsewhere in the region. Joe Van Gogh is coffee roasting company with a focus on certified organic coffees. In addition its internet retail, the roaster runs three coffeehouses in Durham and Chapel Hill. Visit www.joevangogh.com or call 919-644-0111 for more information.

Who Should Drink It: A Fair-Trade certified coffee from a country that has endured great hardships. Lovers of the rougher style of Sumatra should enjoy it.

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