The History
SOCIETEIT DE HARMONIE TE KAWISARI
A HISTORICAL BUILDING FROM THE ERA OF SIR THOMAS RAFFLES, 1811
In the 1900, the Kawisari Coffee Plantation and its sister plantation, the Sengon Coffee Plantation were already two plantations of a total of 850 hectares in size, owned by the same company, RUBBER ONDERNEMING SENGON under the leadership of J.T.BARKMEIJER. Within these two plantations, a small private club called SOCIETEIT de HARMONIE te KAWISARI was built, inspired by the Societeit de Harmonie te Batavia. The Kawisari and Sengon plantations supplied premium coffee beans (under the brand of Kawisari) as well as coffee blends (under the brand of Kopi Babah) to Societeit de Harmonie te Batavia (SHB) on Rijswiyk Street, Batavia Centrum (Central Batavia).
Thanks to Barkmeijer’s expertise in maintaining the quality excellence of Kawisari coffee, Societeit de Harmonie te Batavia (at that time one of Southeast Asia’s most exclusive private clubs) remained one of Kawisari’s most loyal customers for many years. Barkmeijer continuously improved the beans from the coffee trees that were first planted by the princedom of Blitar in 1845. As for the coffee blends, it was the families of Ong Ting and Ong Liang who created the Kawisari blends as requested by the beverage experts of the Societeit de Harmonie te Batavia. Ong Ting was an expert mixer for kretek cigarettes, carrying a degree known as EERE DIPLOMA, DER “SIRENE PARK”- TENTOONSTELLING TE BATAVIA since 1918.
As a preferred supplier to the exclusive SHB, Ting Liang was one of the few Chinese Peranakan who was allowed to enter the Harmonie te Batavia building on Rijswijk straat. At the time, normally only Europeans/Caucasians were allowed to enter the club, with the exception of very wealthy and influential Chinese such as the Sugar Baron, the Shipping Baron, etc. Inspired by the SHB in Batavia, Barkmeijer started to realize the need for a similar, if smaller club, for the European plantation managers & directors who controlled the 15 largest plantations in the region of Wlingi, as well as the other wealthy businessmen from the cigar onderneming (companies) of the region, and the royal families of Blitar. He then started the Societeit de Harmonie te Kawisari at the Sengon and Kawisari coffee plantations. Unfortunately, the political situation in Indonesia in the earlier 20th century was not conducive to the existence of a western club in the countryside, and eventually the movements for independence forced the club towards its closure.
The founder of Tugu Hotels & Restaurants, the current owner of the 850 hectare-Kawisari Coffee Plantation on the valley of Mount Kelud, in commemorating the history of the Societeit de Harmonie in this beautiful plantation is often reminded by what Sir Stamford Raffles said in the 19th century: “….. if you are not able to build it, then never destroy it…” For that reason, although the building is now much simpler than the glamorous original club building, it gives us pleasure to bring back to life and renovate this club building from a hundred years ago, to tell some of the pieces of history that have long been forgotten by the people of Indonesia. The dramatic demolition of the original Societeit de Harmonie in Batavia in March 1985 should not be forgotten, as a strong reminder for the present and future generations never again to destroy our beautiful heritage buildings.
SOCIETEIT de HARMONIE te KAWISARI WLINGI, BLITAR
Kawisari Coffee Plantation, 2-2-2022
Video
Photo Gallery
SOCIETEIT DE HARMONIE TE KAWISARI
Indulge in the full experience of Tugu Kawisari Plantation Coffee Journey while living in a quaint lodge inspired by the legendary Societeit de Harmonie te Batavia.
Societeit de Harmonie te Kawisari filled with five gorgeous and spacious rooms – complimented with the serene and lush green view of the plantation, take a moment to circling around bonfire and savor the savoury and smokey taste of the barbeque under the stars, and explore the plantation to discover the hidden gems that Kawisari has to offer.
Inclusion:
Breakfast, Local Traditional Snack, Lunch, Dinner
Master Suite
A charming, rustic theme combined with moody ambiance, the Master Suite, at 69 sqm, is the largest room in the house. The room consists of a living area, spacious bathroom, and its own dining area. Making it perfect for long stays.
Standard Suite
The Plantation houses 3 standard suites; each an open-plan suite with two queen-size beds, en-suite bathroom, and living area. At a spacious 41 sqm, the room can accommodate up to 4 guests with ease, making it the right choice for families or groups of friends.
Junior Room
The intimate Junior Room, 11 sqm in size, comes with a double bed, vanity table, and desk. It has access to a shared common bathroom just right outside and is perfect for solo travellers or quick transits.
Facilities & Services
- WIFI Internet Connection
- Bike Rental
- Laundry Services
- Car Park
- Daily Sunset High Tea with Traditional Delicacies
- Coffee & Tea Making Facility
- Semi-Open & Outdoor Dining Space
- Spacious Lounge Area
- Electric Fan for Every Room
- Safe Deposit Boxes
Room Amenities
- Towel
- Soap & Shampoo
- Shower Cap
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Toilet Paper
- Kleenex Tissue
- Slippers
- Mosquito Repellent (Electric & Spray)
- Mineral Water
Wake up and smell the freshly-roasted coffee at the oldest working coffee plantation in Java as well as the largest organic coffee plantation in Indonesia, located on the majestic slopes of Mt. Kelud & Mt. Kawi, approximately 600-1,200 meters above the sea level. To truly immerse in the heritage, culture and the natural beauty of the Kawisari Coffee Plantation, we encourage you to try some of the activities we offer below:
THE KAWISARI COFFEE MUSEUM TOUR
Take the time to discover the fascinating history and stories of the Kawisari Coffee Plantation, the oldest coffee plantation in Java since 1840 / 1870. From old photographs, signages, transcripts, original telephone apparel, immerse in the storyline of Kawisari Coffee Plantation throughout the past 150+ years, as told from one generation to another by the people of Kawisari.
Free Entry
THE KAWISARI
COFFEE MUSEUM
PICNIC BY THE RIVER
Breakfast / Morning Coffee / Lunch / Sunset High Tea
Enjoy a unique, luxurious picnic by the river with rice field and tropical jungle view surrounded natural landscapes, while enjoying freshly prepared farm delicacies and freshly roasted and brewed Kawisari coffee and Java tea infusions.
PICNIC
BY THE RIVER
HIKING THE KAWISARI PLANTATION
Various hiking tracks, guided or unguided at all levels of difficulty, starting from 1-4 hours long. Consult your butler for maps or to book your guide.
Free activity for unguided hikes around the plantation houseHIKING THE
KAWISARI PLANTATION
THE KAWISARI COFFEE TOUR
You will enjoy a leisurely tour around the plantation, including some walks and some rides in the plantation car, to learn about how we grow the finest, award-winning Java coffee beans, from the nursery to the harvesting process, from the coffee cherry picking to the roasting. You will learn the traditional way of roasting the coffee beans that have been passed on from one generation to the next for more than a century.
This experience includes a traditional lunch served by the Kawisari people on the valleys of the plantation, as well as Kawisari Arabica and Robusta coffee tasting.
Learn more about Kawisari Coffee in the Kawisari Coffee booklet that you can find in the plantation house.
THE KAWISARI
COFFEE TOUR
THE KAWISARI CLOVE CLASS
Other than robusta and arabica coffee trees, 550 hectares of the Kawisari plantation are occupied by 3,800 clove trees.
As early as 200 BCE, envoys from Java to the Han-dynasty court of China brought cloves that were customarily held in the mouth, to perfume the breath during audiences with the emperor. During the late Middle Ages, cloves were used in Europe to preserve, flavour, and garnish food. Clove cultivation was almost entirely confined to Indonesia, and in the early 17th century the Dutch eradicated cloves on all islands except Amboina and Ternate in order to create scarcity and sustain high prices. In the latter half of the 18th century the French smuggled cloves from the East Indies to Indian Ocean islands and the New World, breaking the Dutch monopoly.
Indonesia is now the world’s largest producer of cloves, followed by Madagascar, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka.
Learn about the planting of Javanese cloves as well as the harvesting process at Kawisari.
THE KAWISARI
CLOVE CLASS
THE KAWISARI RUBBER CLASS
East Java is the 3rd largest rubber producer in Indonesia.
In 1864 the first rubber plant was introduced in Indonesia during the Dutch Colonization. Initially, the rubber was planted in Bogor Botanical Garden as a collection of plants and then developed into several regions in Indonesia as a commercial plantation. At that time, the Dutch government developed rubber because coffee and tobacco, which were their flagship market, were declining.
The Dutch government invited investors from other countries to grow the rubber industry in the Dutch Indies. The first foreign company who planted rubber and managed it commercially in Indonesia was Harrison and Crossfield Company which has opened the rubber plantation in Malaysia. After that, other companies followed, such as Sociente Financiere des Caoutchous from Belgium in 1909, and a joint venture between the Netherlands and the United States, Holland Amerikaanse Plantage Maatschappij in the year 1910-1911. The Dutch gave full support to foreign investors to develop the rubber industry in Indonesia. They facilitated the process of clearing land, providing manpower, infrastructure, processing technology and marketing. Land leased concessions in the long-term agreement was only taxed at 1-2% of the cost of cleared land and labor were paid very low.
Now, Kawisari Plantation dedicates 130 hectares of its land to 62,100 rubber trees, producing 10 -15 tons of rubbers annually.
Book a leisurely class to learn more about the growing, harvesting and processing of rubber at Kawisari. Learn and see for yourself how to extract the rubber from the tree in the early morning hours.
THE KAWISARI
RUBBER CLASS
COFFEE CUPPING AT THE KAWISARI
Learn and discover the various flavors of the Kawisari coffees, from the organic robusta, arabica, peaberry, longberry, as well as various infused coffees.
COFFEE CUPPING
AT THE KAWISARI
HORSERIDING-WATERFALL STOP & MOUNTAIN VIEW
Enjoy the real farm life on horsebacks, that will take you through the forests, the waterfall, over beautiful landscapes on top of the hill, with a stop at the Kawisari Mountaintop Point platform to enjoy a beautiful cup of coffee or wine over the most breathtaking view to the Mt Kawi and Mt Kelud.
HORSERIDING-WATERFALL STOP & MOUNTAINS VIEW
ORGANIC VEGETABLE NURSERY
Visit the nursery to learn about the growing and caretaking of Kawisari organic greens, from kale, cabbage, Vietnamese herbs, and more.
ORGANIC
VEGETABLE NURSERY
TRADITIONAL COOKING CLASS
Learn to cook the humble, delicious East Javanese foods of Kawisari from the Kawisari chef Ibu No, with fresh produce directly picked that day in the plantation.
TRADITIONAL
COOKING CLASS
BONFIRE & BBQ UNDER THE STARS
Enjoy the delicious coolness of the mountains under a million stars, with bonfire to grill your marshmallows and corn on the cobs.
BONFIRE & BBQ
UNDER THE STARS
