What is the Tabi coffee varietal?
Tabi is a coffee varietal that was developed through selective breeding. It is a hybrid of the Typica, Bourbon, and Timor varieties. The name "Tabi" is derived from the first two letters of each parent variety: Ta from Typica, bi from Bourbon. This hybrid was specifically designed to combine the desirable traits of its parent varieties.
Tabi coffee is known for its potential in producing high-quality cups with unique flavor profiles. It is grown in various coffee-producing regions, especially in Colombia, where it was originally developed by the Colombian Coffee Research Center (Cenicafe) in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
The goal in creating the Tabi variety was to improve disease resistance and yield while maintaining or enhancing cup quality. The resulting plants are often more resistant to diseases like coffee leaf rust, which can be a significant concern for coffee growers. As with any coffee varietal, the specific flavor characteristics of Tabi coffee can vary based on the growing conditions, processing methods, and other factors in different regions.