Burundi: Gahahe - Kayanza Province - Microlot

Burundi: Gahahe - Kayanza Province - Microlot

Washed Process ∙ Medium Roast

Syrupy sweetness and mouthfeel with tangy fruit acidity; savory, molasses, dark chocolate, and citrus fruit flavors.

Grown at 1650-1950 Meters Above Sea Level (MASL) 

Our Origin Select coffee this month comes from the Gahahe Washing Station in the Kayanza Province, in northern Burundi.Established in 1989, this washing station serves approximately 1,740 farmers. Due to the small size and yield on the average coffee farm or plot (farmers here own less than half a hectare of land, on average), washing stations are the primary point of purchase in Burundi. Unlike other coffee-growing regions where landholdings are slightly larger, most producers do not have space on their property or the financial means to do their wet- or dry-milling. Instead, the majority of growers deliver their coffee cherries to a facility that does sorting, blending, and post-harvest processing to create different offerings.

   Burundi's coffee industry is relatively small compared to its East African neighbors, such as Ethiopia and Kenya, but the country's coffee is gaining recognition for its unique flavors and quality. Coffee is an essential crop in Burundi, and it accounts for a significant part of the country's economy. Coffee production in Burundi started in the early 1900s, during the Belgian colonial period, at which time coffee was mainly grown for export to Europe.

   Burundi's coffee is known for its sweet, fruity, and floral notes, which are attributed to the country's high altitude and unique soil composition. The harvest season runs from March to July. The coffee cherries are handpicked by the farmers, and only the ripe cherries are harvested. In addition to growing coffee, farmers also grow crops like bananas, beans, yams, taro, and cassava, both for sale and for household use. Each farmer has roughly 240 trees on about a tenth of a hectare of land.

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