RWANDA

In the 1930s, German missionaries brought the first coffee plant to Rwanda. It originated in the town of Mibirizi, which later became known as the first Rwandan coffee, a natural mutation of the Bourbon variety. From there it spread across the Kivu region into the whole country. Rwanda consists mainly of a hilly plateau with altitudes of 1300 - 2200m. On this plateau, coffee is grown predominantly on small family-run farms (usually less than a hectare in size) located on steep slopes. Agriculture plays an important role for the population. 85% of the people live directly from agriculture and coffee and tea belong to the primary export goods.
This small East African country looks back on a turbulent history. After Rwanda gained independence in 1961, the situation between the population groups became aggravated. In 1994, the ongoing conflicts ended in a tragic genocide. About one million people were killed and several millions more were forced to flee.
With international funds pouring into the country in the 1990s, showing great interest in Rwanda's coffee sector, the country gradually recovered. The first washing stations were developed and the demand for high quality coffee grew. Today, Rwanda is considered the "model country" of Africa. There are now over 300 Washing Stations and Rwandan coffees are considered a specialty. Furthermore, traceability is very high in Rwanda.
The potato defect occurs both in Burundi and in Rwanda. These are bacteria that settle in the skin of the cherry. The difficulty is that the defect becomes noticeable only after roasting in the form of an odor reminiscent of peeling a potato. By a precise preparation and sorting out of the parchment, the defect can be almost controlled.


Altitude
1300m - 2200m
Harvest time
March - June
Varieties
Jackson/Bourbon & Mbirizi
Soil type
Sandy clay
Growing regions
Huye, Nyamasheke, Nyamagabe, Ngoma, Nyagatare, Nyaraguru, Rutsiro, Gakenke & Gatsibo
Climate
Periodically wet tropical climate with
relatively even temperatures of 25 to 30 degree.
Two seasons: dry and rainy season
