The Haraz valley is the birthplace of coffee. It is an area 120 km south-west of Sanaa the capital of Yemen, a country to the south of the Arabian peninsula. It covers an area of 1276 square kilometers and consists of highlands, plateaus and valleys. The economy of Haraz is based on traditional highland agriculture. Irrigation is from rain and rain water reservoirs. In the last few years the people of this remote valley have successfully replaced Qaat trees with coffee. Qaat is a weed like plant, the source of a stimulant intoxicant resembling amphetamine. It consumes almost 60% of irrigation water and invades fields over time. This is a monumental community effort, a social, agricultural and economic revolution inspired and led by their leader, Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin. The fame and reputation of Yemeni coffee does not need much marketing and advertising. It is known to be one of the best coffees in the world. "the (Haraz) region is the birthplace of coffee, and it is also where the term 'arabica', originated… before the rise of coffee producers in Central and South America the Haraz region was the place where the world’s coffee came from, with beans being valued at more than 200 dollars per pound", says a recent report on Yemeni coffee in the US Metro Times. Traditional Yemeni coffee is spicy and floral, tasting nearly like a tea. It is flavoured with a combination of cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger. When served black, the Yemeni beans hold unique chocolate and fruit notes.The coffee cherries are dry-processed. The farms are located at elevations of 2000-2300 meters above sea level.