Ruanda

Capital: Kigali

Area: 26,500 sq. km

Population: 11.6 Million

Language: Kirwanda and French

Currency: Rwanda Franc

Annual Production: 280,000 60kg bags

Coffee Producing Area: X

Producing Regions: Gishamwana, Rulindo, Kabirizi, Kigeyo

Coffee Varietals: X

Terrain: Mountainous, Volcano Peaks

Altitude: 1,400-1,800

Soil: Laterite

Harvest: March-August

  German missionaries introduced coffee to Rwanda in the early 1900’s where the first coffee trees were planted on mountains on the east side of the country. The late 1990s saw better support from the government as well as aid agencies who funded assets such as washing stations. Cooperatives were formed to support farmer interests and farmers received sophisticated training. The washed coffee is highly sought after and sold as a specialty coffee.

The topography is mountainous and volcano peaks reach to heights of 4,500 metres. These great altitudes provide prime conditions to cultivate coffee along with the prevalent sunshine and equatorial mist.

The coffees are known for their sweetness and strong bodies, notes are typically of red fruits such as plum and raisin as well as some citric acidity.