Flores is part of the Indonesian province, East Nusa Tenggara, with East Manggarai being one of the eight governmental districts. In the 18th century, Arab traders from India brought the Arabica coffee plant to this area, which seemed predestined for its cultivation with its mineral-rich volcanic soil, mountain slopes and sufficient rainfall. Later, the colonial powers demanded the cultivation of Robusta beans, so that until a few years ago, only this type of coffee was grown there.
Coffee farming is passed on from one generation to the next, which is why the current coffee farmers only own small plantations, usually between 2,500 m² and 7,500 m² (only very few own between 1 and 2 ha).
Compared to other coffee plantations, such as on Java or Sumatra, their harvest is rather low, but of high quality. The red coffee cherries are always harvested by hand. The cultivation is purely organic, using the dried pulp of the coffee cherries and manure from privately kept livestock as fertiliser. The harvest period is from May to September, depending on the altitude. Arabica beans grow here between 1,000 - 1,700 m above sea level, the Robusta beans at 800 - 1,200 m above sea level.
About 1200 inhabitants or a little more than 300 families live in the village of Tangkul. It is the birthplace of the coffee farmers' cooperative ASNIKOM, which as a self-help initiative wanted to stand up to the price depression for organic coffee that had been going on for years. In 2010, the journey began with Lodovikus Vadirman as chairman and Nobertus Teming as supervisory board member (both from Tangkul) and Damagus Hagas as managing director.
The initial membership of 30, a small proportion from Tangkul, grew quickly as success was visible in a short time and an incentive for other coffee farmers to join and train. The desired specialty quality was achieved through training and dedication and rewarded with prizes in national and international competitions.
