The Republic of Burundi is a small, landlocked country, located in the central heart of Africa known as the Great Lakes Region. About the size of Maryland, it is bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Part of its western border lies along Lake Tanganyika, one of the world’s largest fresh water lakes. The landscape is mostly hills of varying heights as well as mountains from 772 m (2,539 ft) to 2,685 m (8,810 ft). Burundi is one of the most densely populated and one of the five poorest countries in the world. Besides the poverty, its people suffered through a long civil war ending in 2005.
Largely dependent on subsistence agriculture, over half the Burundian population consists of “smallholder” farmers, the majority tending only 50 to 250 coffee trees at most. These garden farmers rely on coffee production as the their main source of income. Though Burundi is one of the smallest coffee-producing nations in East Africa, Arabica coffee accounts for over 90% of the country’s exported goods.
Today, Burundi is working to rebuild after its civil war. One such effort is the privatization of the coffee sector. Farmers rely on regional coffee washing stations and collection centers (there are currently over 160) to fetch a premium for their coffee. Previously built and owned by the government, as part of the privatization, these washing stations and collection centers were sold to organizations called Sogestals, which are essentially management groups similar to cooperatives.
The most effective Sogestals work closely with farmers in their respective regions by providing logistical and agricultural support, education and the means necessary to increase productivity and better quality, including two-stage fermentation.
The real story of Burundi is about how all the blood, sweat and tears produce a remarkable, singular cup of coffee. Meeting the people who make it happen is worth the time and effort it takes to get there.
One outstanding example is Cup of Excellence award-winning Buhorwa - Sogestal Kayanza. Situated outside the small town of Bukeye in the Muramvya Provence at 1,820 meters, Buhorwa is one of Burundi’s highest elevated washing stations. In addition, Sogestal Kayanza operates three coffee-cherry collection centers, which not only provide adequate volume for the station, but the ability to better separate individual lots which, in turn, leads to higher quality.
The coffee of Buhorwa – Sogestal Kayanza offers effervescent and vibrant acidity, along with flavors of passion fruit, apricot, pineapple and plum with a medium body and juicy finish.
Origin: Burundi
Region: Kayanza
Farm/Co-op: Buhorwa
Varietal(s): Bourbon
Avg. Altitude: 1820 meters
Harvest: April – September
Processing: Washed
Flavor Notes: Plum, Melon, Raspberries
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