Mandheling is named after the similarly spelled  mandailing people located in North Sumatra Indonesia. The name is the result of a misunderstanding by the first foreign purchaser of the variety, and no coffee is actually produced in the "Mandailing region".

Mandailling Arabica Coffee in Indonesia is picked by hand ,whether it is grown by small-holders or on medium-sized estates.After harvest , the coffee is processedin a variety of ways, each imparting its own flavors and aromas to the final product.