Nagaland coffee to add aroma to Gulf Barista Championship, Dubai

KOHIMA, Dec 04: Even as Nagaland coffee continues to earn international recognition for its aroma, Naga Coffee Pvt Ltd director, Pieter Vermeulen, who is currently on a visit to the State, now plans to take the coffee to the Gulf Barista Championship in Dubai on December 8 and 9.
 Interacting with Nagaland Post on Sunday evening at the coffee stall set up by Department of Land Resource at the Hornbill Festival venue, Vermeulen, at whose initiative Nagaland coffee has become popular across the globe, said he had taken local coffee samples to coffee festivals in New York, Dubai, Cape Town and United Kingdom. And according to him, the feedback from other countries had been very positive. He said Nagaland coffee was on  huge demand due to its aroma and flavour. 
The director, however, regretted that a three tonne shipment of Nagaland coffee, which was supposed to be transported to Cape Town, was stuck in Kolkata due to some new rules under Goods & Services Tax (GST). 
He, of course, added that he had finally received clearance orders and that the consignment would be shipped to Cape Town on December 4.Vermeulen also said Dubai Coffee Company had agreed to purchase Nagaland coffee “if 20 tonne could be supplied to the company every month”.
Naga Coffee Pvt Ltd director had introduced new type of coffee called “Chilly Coffee”, which he took to international market and the response had been excellent. 
He said he had returned to Nagaland during the Hornbill Festival to introduce Chilly Coffee to people of the State.Vermeulen said he was happy to learn that guests at the festival were enjoying the new type of coffee. 
He added that marketing was better this season than in the previous years as the company had already used more than 40 kg of roasted coffee. Vermeulen also sought State government’s support in popularising coffee plantation, which would eventually create job opportunities for thousands of Naga youth.Stressing that farmers be trained on harvesting and drying coffee, he added that if Nagas could tap coffee’s potential, then the State’s economy would hugely improve.
Land Resource director Hoto Yeptho said Naga Coffee Pvt Ltd office, which was currently based out of New Delhi, would soon shift its office to Dimapur.Vermeulen will be leaving to Cape Town soon to take part in the Gulf Barista Championship.
Meanwhile, many foreign and domestic tourists were seen quite inquisitive about “Chilly Coffee” and asking Vermeulen how it was prepared, and richly commenting on Nagaland coffee.Nagaland Post