Tanna Coffee

Coffee has been grown on Tanna since the 1980s on the volcanic soil around Yasur, arabica planted in smallholder gardens rather than plantations, and it is the only coffee Vanuatu exports. The beans go to a roastery at Mele on Efate where the process from green bean to roast can be seen and the coffee tasted. The Tanna growing areas themselves can be visited by arrangement.

What you actually see

• The volcanic soil - the ground around Yasur the coffee is grown in.
• The smallholder model - coffee grown in village gardens rather than estates.
• The Mele roastery - where the beans are roasted and can be tasted.
• The single origin - Vanuatu's only exported coffee crop.

When to go

The harvest on Tanna runs from around May to September. The roastery operates year round. May to October is the dry season for travel generally.

Honest expectations

The roastery on Efate is what most people actually visit, not the Tanna gardens. Tours are short and end in a shop. Visiting the growing areas on Tanna needs arrangement and rough road travel.

Nearby

Mele is west of Port Vila, and Tanna is far south.