Tastes Like: Dried Dates, Blackberry, Pink Grapefruit

This coffee comes from the Jarama farm, one of three estates that are part of the Kivubelt group in western Rwanda.  

Kivubelt was established in 2011 by Furaha Umwizey after he returned to Rwanda with a master’s degree in economics from Switzerland. His goal with Kivubelt was to create a model coffee plantation focused on sustainable agriculture and local employment and empowerment. Since he started Kivubelt has planted 90,000 coffee trees and employed more than 400 people during harvest season.  

They don’t just produce coffee, as part of their view on local empowerment they offer vocational schools for neighboring smallholders who want to improve their farming skills.  

The Nyamasheke region has a gifted terroir. The cool, humid climates from both Lake Kivu and the Nyungwe Forest keep groundwater abundant throughout this uniquely hilly region. Lake Kivu itself is under consistent drift that creates volcanic seepage from the lake's bottom that enriches the surrounding soil.

Region: Nyamasheke

Washing station: Jarama

Altitude: 1700-1900 masl

Process: Washed

Variety: Bourbon