Country: Rwanda
Region: Cyeza sector, Muhanga district
Cooperative: Abateraninkunga Ba Sholi
Flavor Profile: Peach, Lemon, Jasmine
Roast Level: Medium Light
Process: Natural
Varietal: Bourbon    
Certifications: Fair Trade Organic, Rain Forest Alliance, Coffee and Cocoa Production

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.

In 2008, a group of women formed a cooperative, Abateraninkunga Ba Sholi, that focused on small-scale farming to inspire community and grow the local coffee market. The Sholi cooperative, located in the Muhanga district, is known for its rich soil and investments in the community through healthcare, water, employment, and equality.

This coffee is as juicy as a ripe peach! It has a tea-like body with slight floral after notes, and a sweet fruitiness from start to finish.