Altrei Coffee (Sold Out)

The story of Altrei coffee is an amazing one. For centuries the villagers of Altrei in Northern Italy raised this lupine for making a hot beverage remarkably similar to coffee. In the 1980s the tradition had dwindled to only a couple families, and had it not been for the resurgence of interest in local traditions, Altrei coffee may have passed into oblivion. Thanks to the efforts of a couple of German scientists interested in the biodiversity of European food plants there is a renewed interest in this old tradition. And now slowly but surely the villagers of Altrei are once again proudly raising this ancient crop. We have our seeds thanks to the great generosity of Mr. Otto Werth who believes that the best way to preserve traditions is to share them with others. The "beans" are roasted, rough ground, and then percolated like regular coffee. Excellent and caffeine free! Thrives in rich non-alkaline soils.