A study case on coffee (Coffea arabica): Limu Coffe - IRD

Coffee can also be used in other ceremonies as Muslim exorcism sessions or Christian
zar evocations at night, both called wädaga (Mercier, 1980-2).
5.1.2) Other consumption ways
The coffee part the most commonly consumed is the bean, as in western countries, and
since the Amhara domination most of traditional coffee preparations tend to disappear or yet
disappeared.
As in Limu region, and Kaffa historical province globally, Oromo people used and
still use (but rarely and in exceptional purposes, in remote areas) to consume a typical
preparation: Buna Qalaa which is coffee cooked with butter, melt with different species and
salt. A Genet farmer told me this preparation appeared approximately during the 17 th century
in Oromo culture. Is there a link between this preparation and the ones, as Mercier noted,
Grühl and Bruce observed? In the 1920’s, Max Grühl described the traditional Kaffa way of
coffee preparation as a boiling spices with pellets made of roasted coffee powder mixed with
butter and honey. Before, in the second half of 18 th century, Bruce already noted that Oromo
people living in Amhara kingdom used to eat roasted coffee powder pellets mixed with butter.
Another preparation currently found in Oromo regions, and very spread in the whole
Limu region, is the coffee husk decoction called hogga or qasara. Afar people also consume
coffee in this way, even more commonly.
Mahlé, Omo people, infuse coffee with parchment. It is interesting to note the
similitude between this people name and the old introduced coffee varieties one (Malé) in
Limu region.
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