Turihamwe – Burundi

ORIGIN
Burundi is a small landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of East Africa, bordered by Tanzania, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo. Its population of 13.5 million makes it one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Located near the Equator, Burundi has cooler temperatures than most other tropical regions, thanks to its location on a high plateau, reaching elevations up to 2,760 meters at the peak of Mount Heha, and on average 1,800 meters on the country’s southeast plains.

PRODUCER
Sourced through our friends at JNP Coffee, Turihamwe, which means “together” in Kirundi. The proud women farmers of Turihamwe coffee truly embody the spirit of entrepreneurship, after they established Burundi’s first washing station built and owned entirely by women farmers in 2019. They cultivate coffee in the Ngozi Province and have devoted themselves to producing excellent coffees whilst building a sustainable future for their families and their community; a future that they see is now possible thanks to their partnership with JNP. This has been made possible by the Dushime Premium Payment Programme that provides a bonus in the form of a second payment at the end of each harvest season.

This fully washed Bourbon variety is grown at an average of 1750 masl and after being selectively picked, the ripe red cherries are transported to the Turihamwe wet mill for processing. After being de-pulped, the parchment coffee is left to dry on raised beds and is turned regularly until the optimum moisture content is reached. The coffee is then rested before being  transported to the dry mill and readied for shipment to export markets around the world. Through their small investment group, Turihamwe Turashobora, the businesswomen plan to use future premium earnings to increase production from five micro-lots to more than 1,200 bags (60kgs) per year.

ROAST
This is the first time we have sourced coffee through our friends at JNP and we love this microlot for its vibrant tangy acidity and vibrant flavour profile. There is a fragrant orange blossom-like florality with a juiciness that reminds us of ripe apricot. Roasted energetically for filter, we have extended the maillard phase to allow more time for the sugar-browning reactions and caramelisation to occur. As a result, you can expect a sweet molasses-like aftertaste that balances out the vibrant acidity in this exceptional Bourbon from Burundi.