Turihamwe – Burundi

ORIGIN

Burundi is a small landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of East Africa, bordered by Tanzania, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Lake Tanganyika. 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 other tropical regions, thanks to its mountain chains and a high plateau, reaching elevations up to 2,760 meters at the peak of Mount Heha, and 1,800 meters on the country’s southeast plateaus.

PRODUCER
Turihamwe, which means “together” in Kirundi, is a high-quality coffee produced by women coffee farmers and processed in Burundi’s first washing station built and owned by women farmers. Seven women pooled their savings from their JNP Coffee premiums to build their own wet mill in 2019.

Now they control the quality of their coffee and this stage of the supply chain. The result is an exceptional coffee that features the sweet and citrus flavors so prized by specialty coffee drinkers. Through their small investment group, Turihamwe Turashobora, these businesswomen plan to use future premium earnings to increase production from five micro-lots to 1,200 bags a year.

Sourced through our friends at JNP, in 2012, Jeanine founded JNP Coffee. Today, our company is known for its award-winning specialty coffees and the gender-sensitive development strategies it enables at origin. Jeanine serves as a role model for what a Burundian woman can achieve in her country.  A licensed Q. Grader and certified Q. processor Level 1, she continues to strengthen the global specialty coffee industry. She serves as a member of the SCA Board of Directors.

ROAST