Tanzania

Tanzania Coffee

 Tanzania grows both arabica and robusta coffee. The arabica, when good, can be a well-balanced coffee with berry notes and is grown mainly on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, towards the border with Kenya. The robusta is grown predominantly in Bukoba (west of Lake Victoria) and Usambara (in the East). Coffee is produced predominantly by small-holders with farms averaging size of 1 to 2 hectares. The arabica harvest is from October to February, the robusta harvest from June to December.

Country

 Tanzania lies to the south of Kenya and Uganda on the east coast of Africa. There are several clearly defined regions, including the lush tropical coastal plains on the Indian Ocean, the Masai steppe in the north and the high plateau in the south leading down to Lake Malawi. Tanzania also comprises the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba. The country was formed from the union of the former British protectorates of Tanganika and Zanzibar after they gained independence in the mid-1960s. The economy relies heavily on agricultural cash crops such as cotton, coffee, tea, sisal, tobacco and cashew nuts.

Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar... Some of Africa's most alluring destinations, all packed into one country. Resonating with hints of the wild and exotic, these four alone are reason enough to justify packing your bag and heading off to Tanzania. But the list isn’t finished. Bagmoyo and Ujiji – stops on the 19th-century caravan routes into the heart of what was then an unknown continent.

Within the space of several hours, it’s possible to go from lazing on postcard perfect beaches to exploring moss-covered ruins of ancient Swahili city-states; from climbing mist-covered slopes in the Southern Highlands to trekking through the barren landscapes around Ol Doinyo Lengai, guided by a spear-carrying Maasai warrior. Yet, despite its attractions, Tanzania has managed for the most part to remain unassuming and low-key. It has also remained enviably untouched by the tribal rivalries and political upheavals that plague many of its neighbours, and this – combined with a booming tourism industry – makes it an ideal choice for both first-time visitors old Africa hands.

Relationship

 DRW has been working with cooperative groups in order to source our coffee. Our arabica comes from producers on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Robusta is sourced from Kagera Cooperative Union (KCU) whose farm members are located around Bukoba.