Banyuwangi To Host 10.000 Cup Coffe Festival

BANYUWANGI, E. Java, Nov 4 (Antara) - Ten thousand cups of coffee would be served along the 1.5 kilometer-long Kemiren indigenous village's main street to visitors, by villagers during the "Ngopi Sepuluh Ewu Festival" (Ten Thousands Coffee Festival), which will be held on November 5. An official from the Tourism and Culture office, Banyuwangi administration, MY Bramuda said here on Thursday that the festival is based on the theme, "One Brew Makes Us Brothers." "This is a common term for the Using community in Kemiren village that reflects their tradition of drinking coffee together. Thousands of cups of coffee would be served in each house along the 1.5 kilometer main road of Kemiren Village," he said. Coffee and traditional snacks of Kemiren would be served at villagers' yards for all visitors. During that day, the scent of coffee would warm the atmosphere of the village, located in the foot of Mount Ijen. The idea of the festival was inspired by local tradition to enjoy coffee together with neighbors. "The term of 'one brew makes us brothers' has inspired us to hold the Ten Thousands Coffee Festival, which has become our routine agenda for the last four years ago. This will also become a medium for strengthening relations amongst the hospitable Using community," Bramuda said. In addition, the festival would be part of the efforts to promote Banyuwangi coffee and its unique tradition of drinking coffee, he added. "In Banyuwangi, we have some coffee producing areas, namely Kalipuro, Kalibaru, and western village in the foot of Mount Ijen. We also have a 'coffee harvesting festival' in Gombengsari Village of Kalipuro, which was held two months ago," Bramuda said. According to official data, coffee production in Banyuwangi increased to 8,047 tons in 2015, compared with 7,992 tons production in 2014. The festival would be held during the night time at villagers' yards, which will serve coffee in specially designed cups. During the festival, visitors would be introduced with local coffee specialty in an exhibition displaying various types of Banyuwangi coffee, including Lerek Gombengsari coffee, Jaran Goyang, Uthek coffee from Banjar village. Visitors would be invited to participate in various activities, including a cupping session, during the exhibition that would be held for two days before the festival, Bramuda said.