PA-O

Behind the Leaf Coffee buys ripe cherries the day they are picked and does all the processing at their coffee farm and factory in the Pinlaung Township, Myanmar.

Co-Founded by Melanie Edwards, BTL has been a real success story in the area. Their work with the local Pa-O people has meant that coffee from the area is now classed as speciality grade, something almost unthinkable a few years ago. The terroir of the region offers a distinct sweetness and we are truly excited to explore the coffees of Myanmar.

A majority of the coffee processing and hand-sorting that has played a vital role in meeting the demands of their success, has been undertaken with the help of 50 or so women from the local village of Ta Ngo in the Pinlaung Township. Employing the women from Ta Ngo has been a boon to BTL but the relationship is desperately needed by a lot of the women. Some are single mothers, others widowed, while the rest care for and maintain their household.

Early last year they set up a ‘Bunk Bed System’ with a raised screen table top to sort and dry the coffee beans, and the ground underneath it was lent to the women, where they can grow food for themselves at no extra cost.