Lintong is a high plateau southwest of Lake Toba, where wet-hulled arabica grows at about 1,200-1,500 m and one exporter tastes cedar and dark chocolate.
Lintong coffee is grown in the Lintong Nihuta district, southwest of Lake Toba, on a high plateau known for its diversity of tree fern species. The area is estimated to produce 15,000 to 18,000 tons of arabica per year. A neighbouring region, Sidikalang, also produces arabica. Gayo coffee is described as lighter bodied than Lintong and Mandheling coffees.
A specialty exporter puts Lintong at 1,200-1,500 m, grown mainly by smallholders with Typica and Catimor. Lots are wet-hulled, with full-washed cherry processing more common than semi-washed. The cup is described as cedar, dark chocolate, baking spice and clean earth, with low to medium acidity and a medium to full body.
Field notes
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Lintong is tied to one sub-district, Lintong Nihuta in Humbang Hasundutan, while the Mandheling name has no geographically bounded designation, according to the same exporter.
In the cup, according to guides
- AcidityLessA specialty exporter describes Lintong as low to medium in acidity.
- BodyMoreA specialty exporter describes Lintong as medium to full in body.
- ChocolateOften notedA specialty exporter lists dark chocolate, cedar and baking spice for Grade 1 Lintong lots.
Processing
Elsewhere in North Sumatra
Sources · 2 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-11-10. Some details here are less settled than others.
- Coffee production indonesia — Wikipedia · Wikipedia
- Lintong vs Mandheling Coffee: North vs South Sumatra Compared · Indonesia Specialty Coffee (exporter)