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About Our
Plantation

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About Our
Plantation

ABOUT OUR PLANTATION

Tugu Kawisari Coffee Plantation is located on the majestic slopes of Mt. Kawi & Mt. Kelud near Blitar, East Java, approximately 1,000 meters above sea level. Encompassing nearly 900 hectares of lush fertile land and surrounded with thousands more hectares, 360 degrees view of protected forest, with waterfalls and rivers of crystal clear mountain water flowing through veins across the coffee plantation and emerald green rice fields, the view is breathtaking and the landscape is truly dramatic, to say the least.

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HISTORY OF KAWISARI

1830

In 1830, the Dutch government imposed a new Cultivation system (Cultuur stelsel) under the command of Governor General van den Bosch in 1830-1835. At this moment. The Dutch demanded 20% of the people’s land to be planted with export commodities (coffee, sugar, pepper), replacing the traditional crops such as rice, cassava & corn. While for people who own no land, they had to become forced labor in the fields that belong to the government for 66 days a year.

However, the local officials in the region illegally forced the farmers who owned land to plant the whole plantation for export commodity and the crop had to be sold to the Dutch government at low prices through the Regents. Though rules have been followed by the local farmers, they still had to pay 40% tax instead of tax-free as promised by the Dutch Government. Even worse, the corrupt local officials robbed the farmers by stealing their crops and sold it themselves for the Dutch Government, making people suffer from not having enough crops for their daily needs.

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HISTORY OF KAWISARI

1835 - 1870

1830

During these years, Javanese people were very much suffering from the Cultivation system. Lots of them died of hunger because most of their crops were enjoyed by officials of Regents and the Dutch Government. - leaving them with no profit nor food.

As an illustration between 1843-1848, 216,000 people passed away in Java district due to the Cultuur Stelsel system. While in other regions, A population of 89,000 shrinked to only 9,000.

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HISTORY OF KAWISARI

1860s

1830

In the 1860s, Edward Douwes Dekker (former Assistant Resident of Lebak in 1856) under the pseudonym - Multatuli (meaning: I am very much suffering), authored a book entitled Max Havelaar that tells about the oppression of Javanese poor people by the Regents. At the same time in the Netherlands, the Dutch parliaments were mostly controlled by the middle class members who were more concerned on human rights issues. The inhumane system triggered the Dutch parliament to eradicate the Cultivation system and replaced it with more civilized laws.

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HISTORY OF KAWISARI

1870s

1830

Cultivation Stelsel was officially stopped in 1870, but the system still could be found in some areas despite the official ban. Luckily, the system totally ended in 1917.

In 1870, Agrarische Wet (Agrarian Law) that allowed the establishment of private plantations was launched. Private sectors were allowed to lease land owned by the Dutch government with leasehold status for 75 years. This system is called Erfpacht. Subsequently, the government may also rent lands from people for 20 years. This prompted the Kawisari Great Estates to officially establish a legal entity in 1870.

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HISTORY OF KAWISARI

1830

In 1830, the Dutch government imposed a new Cultivation system (Cultuur stelsel) under the command of Governor General van den Bosch in 1830-1835. At this moment. The Dutch demanded 20% of the people’s land to be planted with export commodities (coffee, sugar, pepper), replacing the traditional crops such as rice, cassava & corn. While for people who own no land, they had to become forced labor in the fields that belong to the government for 66 days a year.

However, the local officials in the region illegally forced the farmers who owned land to plant the whole plantation for export commodity and the crop had to be sold to the Dutch government at low prices through the Regents. Though rules have been followed by the local farmers, they still had to pay 40% tax instead of tax-free as promised by the Dutch Government. Even worse, The corrupt local officials robbed the farmers by stealing their crops and sold it themselves for the Dutch Government, making people suffer from not having enough crops for their daily needs.

IMG1830

HISTORY OF KAWISARI

1835

During these years. Javanese people were very much suffering from the Cultivation system. Lots of them died of hunger because most of their crops were enjoyed by officials of Regents and the Dutch Government. - leaving them with no profit nor food

As an illustration between 1843-1848, 216,000 people passed away in Java district due to the Cultuur Stelsel system. While in other regions, A population of 89,000 shrinked to only 9,000.

IMG1830

HISTORY OF KAWISARI

1860s

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HISTORY OF KAWISARI

1870s

Kawisari Philosophy

The Kawisari Coffee logo symbolizes the steep tradition of the hundreds of beautiful humble villagers that live and maintain the Kawisari Coffee plantation. The Javanese people live in very familial communities, where their most-valued principles are held high throughout many years to this very day: togetherness, simplicity, and living the present.

Kawisari Coffee plays a major role in this; days are started very early in the plantation, before the sun rises, with hot steaming cups of coffee passed around. Breaks during the day are colourful with jokes, comic rhymes, and laughter, making fun of each other, over hot steaming cups of coffee. And at the end of the day, there is nothing better than visiting each other, taking in the majestic views that make the landscape around their homes, sipping hot Kawisari coffee while watching their children, cows, goats & chicken run around free.

This is how life has been since centuries. This is our happy place wherever we are, when we close our eyes, inhale the fragrance of the Kawisari coffee and take our first sip. And now, this happy place can be yours too.

Brief History

The Plantation was founded by the Dutch colonial government in 1870 when the Dutch withdrew forced cultivation regulations, making Tugu Kawisari plantation the first working coffee plantation in East Java. The Plantation produces the finest Arabica and Robusta coffee types bred during the Dutch colonial times, as well as the top gourmet chivet cat coffee, Kopi Luwak. The flavour of these Java coffees known as WIH type is very unique and distinctive, with a beautifully balanced acidity and a body that carries weight of history and age of this majestic plantation and its soil. The past eruptions of Mt Kelud have much contributed as well to the beautiful character of the artisan coffee beans produced in this plantation.

Production Process

Tugu Kawisari coffees are processed under the watchful supervision and strict control from a coffee expert consultant, to ensure the right coffee cherries are harvested at the right time. The ripened coffee cherries are mainly carried out according to the picking method of manually picking only perfectly ripened fruits, while yellow and green ones remain on the branches to ripe on to perfection. The coffee beans here are produced through traditional wood roasting methods or completed under modern technology control to guarantee the best quality of coffee being produced.

Production Process

People of Kawisari

Tugu Kawisari Coffee Plantation is maintained by the local villagers of the surrounding villages that are steeped with hundreds years old traditions and spirituality. The local villages strongly believe that the plantation is a special place eternally protected by the Gods, and that once upon a time, this was the location of the Lembu Suro and Mahesosuro kingdoms. The plantation has also been believed to be the last stop of the kings and princes before reaching the meditation place of the sacred Mount Kawi, where they must cleanse themselves from worldly sins before facing their Gods.

Kawisari Authenticity

The coffee produced in Tugu Kawisari Coffee Plantation is truly unique and can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Our plantation grows around 20 different species of Robusta and Arabica Coffee beans and the numbers increase every single year thanks to the hard-working bees that call our lush plantation home. These bees cross-pollinate coffee flowers from different species and create coffee clones that are truly authentic to Tugu Kawisari Coffee Plantation. Sipping a cup of Kawisari artisan coffee means tasting the wonder of nature’s collaboration.

Kawisari Authenticity

The coffee produced in Tugu Kawisari Coffee Plantation is truly unique and can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Our plantation grows around 20 different species of Robusta and the numbers increase every single year thanks to the hard-working bees that call our lush plantation home. These bees cross-pollinate coffee flowers from different species and create coffee clones that are truly authentic to Tugu Kawisari Coffee Plantation. Sipping a cup of Kawisari coffee means tasting the wonder of nature’s collaboration.

Organic & Sustainability

Tugu Kawisari Coffee Plantation is committed to preserve the unspoiled nature of Mount Kawi and its surrounding environment. Roughly 400 hectares (50%) of the whole area of the plantation has received national organic certification – Lembaga Sertifikasi Organik Seloliman (LeSOS) – with 100% replacement of all chemical fertilizers with cow manure and compost. This makes Kawisari Coffee Plantation the largest organic coffee producer in the country.

80% of our packaging is using biodegradable materials – reusable glass jars, biodegradable papers, reusable fabrics produced by local craftsmen and women. We do not believe in the use of plastic, and we stay true to our mission to stay as the most natural and sustainable coffee plantation in Indonesia.

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The Legend Of Kawisari

According to urban legends, the current location of the Kawisari Coffee Plantation in Mount Kelud is built on an ancient magical kingdom - lead by a well - beloved king with human body and buffalo head - Raja Lembu Suro.

One day, Raja Lembu Suro fall in love with Dewi Kilisuci - a princess from the neighbouring kingdom, Jenggolo Manik, and proposed to her. The Princess, unwilling to marry him, extended two challenges as the conditions of their marriage: First, Dewi Kilisuci must become the ruler of Mount Rinjani, and second, the lava of Mount Kelud and Mount Rinjani must meet together under their commands.

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The Legend Of Kawisari

The King accepted the challenges and rewarded Dewi Kilisuci Mount Rinjani. Both the king and princess agreed to erupt Mount Rinjani and Kelud on the same day to testify their love in the presence of nature. However, one night prior to the promised day, the Queen of Rinjani erupted Mount Rinjani first, hoping that the unaware Raja Lembu Suro would not erupt Mount Kelud at the same time. In a blink of an eye, the hot lava of Rinjani had reached the slopes of Mount Kelud - yet the mountain remained motionless.

Luckily, Sang Hyang Jagadnata (the ruler of all worlds), reminded Raja Lembu Soro the trickery of Dewi Kilisuci and Mount Kelud erupted immediately under the power of the king. The lava of these two mountains soon met and the marriage between Raja Lembu Soro and Dewi Kilisuci turned into reality. As a punishment for her deception, Dewi Kilisuci's head was turned to the head of a horse. The couple had a daughter known as Dewi Yogini - princess with the head of a cow and sturdy human body. After Raja Lembu Suro passed away, his daughter and wife succeeded his kingdom located on the spot where the lava of Mount Rinjani and Kelud once met - Kawisari. To commemorate the marriage of her parents, Dewi Yogini (also known as Ratu Sang Hyang Kambing) promised to keep both mountains active until the end of the world. This is the reason why Mount Kelud and Mount Rinjani never stop erupting till today.

The Legend Of Kawisari Slider - 2

According to urban legends, the current location of the Kawisari Coffee Plantation in Mount Kelud is built on an ancient magical kingdom - lead by a well-beloved king with human body and buffalo head - Raja Lembu Suro.
One day, Raja Lembu Suro fall in love with Dewi Kilisuci - a princess from the neighbouring kingdom, Jenggolo Manik, and proposed to her. The Princess, unwilling to marry him, extended two challenges as the conditions of their marriage: First, Dewi Kilisuci must become the ruler of Mount Rinjani, and second, the lava of Mount Kelud and Mount Rinjani must meet together under their commands

The Legend Of Kawisari Slider - 2

The King accepted the challenges and rewarded Dewi Kilisuci Mount Rinjani. Both the king and princess agreed to erupt Mount Rinjani and Kelud on the same day to testify their love in the presence of nature. However, one night prior to the promised day, the Queen of Rinjani erupted Mount Rinjani first, hoping that the unaware Raja Lembu Suro would not erupt Mount Kelud at the same time. In a blink of an eye, the hot lava of Rinjani had reached the slopes of Mount Kelud - yet the mountain remained motionless.
Luckily, Sang Hyang Jagadnata (the ruler of all worlds), reminded Raja Lembu Soro the trickery of Dewi Kilisuci and Mount Kelud erupted immediately under the power of the king. The lava of these two mountains soon met and the marriage between Raja Lembu Soro and Dewi Kilisuci turned into reality. As a punishment for her deception, Dewi Kilisuci's head was turned to the head of a horse. The couple had a daughter known as Dewi Yogini - princes with the head of a cow and sturdy human body. After Raja Lembu Suro passed away, his daughter and wife succeeded his kingdom located on the spot where the lava of Mount Rinjani and Kelud once met - Kawisari.
To commemorate the marriage of her parents, Dewi Yogini (also known as Ratu Sang Hyang Kambing) promised to keep both mountains active until the end of the world. This is the reason why Mount Kelud and Mount Rinjani never stop erupting till today.