Monday, March 10, 2008

Kok Tong Coffee, The Legendary Coffee from Pematangsiantar




Kok Tong Coffee is made by Robusta and Arabica coffee bean, it is really a “ coffee legend ” from the region. The business was pioneered by Lim Tee Kee, the first generation since June 29th 1925 – who was just 17 years old. The man from the Mainland China tried his destiny in Indonesia, exactly in the town of Pematangsiantar.

At that time he opened a coffee shop which was managed by his family – from the making of the coffee powder to the ready to drink one. At first the coffee shop was located at Cipto Street No. 109/115 with the name “ Heng Seng “ Coffee Shop. It made good progress. The coffee shop then did much renovation and changed its name to “ Massa / Kok Tong “ Coffee Shop since managed by the second generation Lim Kok Tong in 1978.

In 1985 they opened a new coffee shop on Cipto Street No. 133/135. It was open from 06.00 – 2.00 and visited by many customers especially the coffee drinkers from various layers of the society.

Paimin Halim, SH / Akiong and Djamin Halim / A Min, the third generation of the family then took over the management of the coffee shop. They built a factory at Jalan Medan Km. 7 Pematangsiantar. Kok Tong Coffee is made of selected coffee bean from Kabupaten Simalungun and Tobasa North Sumatera.

Kok Tong Coffee is one of many favorite souvenirs for people outside Pematangsiantar. It is incomplete if you come to my town without tasting Kok Tong Coffee.






Translated by Santoli Pantjalogam from various sources

No comments: