The Oromo people of the Guji region have their own unique origin story for the discovery of coffee, reflecting its deep cultural significance. According to their legend, instead of Kaldi the goatherder, the Oromo sky god Waaqa wept over the wrongful death of a loyal servant, and his tears brought forth a new plant from the earth. Since as early as the 10th century, coffee has been revered in Oromo culture as a special plant, with beans mixed with fats to provide energy on long journeys.
Centuries later, Guji farmers continue to follow traditional growing methods that enhance the region’s fertile soil. Many indigenous coffee varieties still thrive on Ethiopia’s coffee farms. Coffee is typically intercropped with maize, barley, wheat, beans, and other crops that sustain the farmers' families.
