Rwanda Mbizi Station - Rooibos Tea, Pineapple, Hibiscus

Description

Country: Rwanda Region: Kamonyi District Producer: Various Smallholders Flavor Profile: Rooibos Tea, Pineapple, Hibiscus Roast Level: Light Medium Process: Washed Varietal: Red Bourbon Rwandan coffee began as a commercial grade exportation of more than half a million bags per year, with a set price by the government that didn’t particularly benefit the farmers. In 1994, the genocide of nearly 1,000,000 people resulted from the Rwandan Civil War. The next year, 1995, Rwanda’s coffee exportation decreased by almost half the volume of before due to the massive population loss, which included farmers. This led to the government’s investment in washing stations, cupping labs, and cooperatives that focus on high quality coffee, re-introducing Rwandan beans as something new with a focus on quality more than quantity. For the last decade, Rwandan coffee has earned it’s place as one of the top specialty coffee origins. This special, organic Rwandan coffee is sourced from exclusively women producers who supply the Mbizi washing station, located in Kamonyi district. The Mbizi station is one of Rwanda's highest altitude wetmills at 2,200 meters above sea level (masl), and is operated by Gihanga Coffee Company. Gihanga works with many small farmers in the region that specialize in cultivating bourbon trees. The rich volcanic soil, plentiful sunshine, and tropical rainfall provide exceptional conditions for arabica coffee, and the Bourbon variety particularly excels in Rwanda's mountainous high elevations. This coffee is sweet and floral - perfect for an iced pour-over that will transport you to a nice spring day. With tasting notes of rooibos tea, pineapple, hibiscus, Mbizi Station has a tea-like and juicy finish.