Rwumba Hill, Rwanda, Anaerobic Natural
- Regular price
- $19.00
- Sale price
- $19.00
- Regular price
-
- Unit price
- per
Grapefruit, chocolate liqueur and toffee
COFFEE PROFILE
This Anaerobic Natural from Rwanda opens with a wonderful grapefruit note that moves to sweet toffee before moving to richer tones of chocolate liqueur.
| TASTES LIKE | Grapefruit, chocolate liqueur and toffee |
| ROAST | Filter |
Story
The Cyato Washing Station, established in 2016, is located in southwest Rwanda near the Nyungwe Forest in Nyamasheke. It processes Bourbon cherries from local farmers, thriving in the region’s fertile, sandy soil and cool climate. This climate extends the harvest season until July, allowing cherries to mature slowly for better flavour and drying control. The proximity to Lake Kivu adds moisture and cool temperatures, perfect for high-altitude coffee cultivation.
Operated by Tropic Coffee Company, Cyato is committed to supporting the local community with initiatives like a coffee nursery and vermicomposting to recycle coffee by-products. The station sources cherries from farms near Nyungwe, where native honeybees pollinate the coffee plants, enhancing both flavour and yield by up to 50%. Farmers also use organic methods such as mulching with rice straw and banana leaves to protect their crops from pests and diseases.
| PRODUCER | Tropic Coffee Company |
| REGION | Nyamasheke District, Cyato |
| VARIETAL | Bourbon |
| PROCESS | Anaerobic Natural |
| ALTITUDE | 2200 masl |
Origin
Nyamasheke District, Cyato, Rwanda
Despite its turbulent past, Rwanda has become a standout in the specialty coffee world—and for good reason! Coffee was introduced by German missionaries in the early 1900s, and large-scale production began under Belgian rule in the 1930s. By the 1970s, coffee accounted for 70% of Rwanda’s export revenue, and it became illegal to uproot coffee trees. However, the collapse of global coffee prices in the early '90s, followed by the 1994 genocide, devastated the industry. Despite this, Rwanda has rebuilt, becoming one of the region's most stable nations with a growing economy.
Coffee production has been central to Rwanda's recovery and has helped drive progress in gender equality. Initiatives supporting women farmers have empowered them with new skills and opportunities.
Today, Rwanda’s coffee industry is driven by over 400,000 smallholders, most growing Arabica coffee. Bourbon varieties make up 95% of the country's coffee trees.
