Uganda - Rwenzori Natural

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To kickstart the 2020 year, we have worked closely with James of Omwani Coffee Co to help search for our next natural processed coffee. He sources some of the best Ugandan coffees to the UK and aims to build long term relationships with farmers. Aiding the farmers with market information, improved prices for better quality and advice on how farmers can improve their primary processing techniques to improve the coffees cup score.

This coffee from Lead Farmer Kananga Neckson wowed all of us when it was first sampled and we knew it was a taste we wanted to highlight. The Rwenzoris are famously known as the ‘Mountains of the Moon’ and they stretch for 230km along the Western Uganda border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The farmers harvest their coffees by hand, carefully selecting the ripe cherries. These are then pre-sorted before being placed in a tank of water; those that float are removed, leaving only the best cherries to continue in the process. The cherries are then sun-dried on raised tables inside purpose built poly-tunnels.

Farmers carefully turn the cherries throughout the day, ensuring uniform drying. Once dried to the required moisture content, the coffee is sorted and processed via the wet mill in Kisinga Town.

After processing, the coffee beans then undergo a final check to remove any black beans or defects. The coffee is then bagged and transported to a dry mill in Numanve on the outskirts of Kampala, here it is prepared for export through Mombasa.

Many farmers choose to sell the fresh cherries after they have been sorted and floated, often with the assistance of the field team based out of Kisinga. This enables farmers to access quick payment for coffee and takes away the risk of processing coffee at their farm, many of whom are not well equipped to dry coffee. The cherries are delivered to the wet mill in Kisinga Town where a team of trained workers are able to carry out the whole process to a high standard,

Expect flavour notes of Pineapple, mango and lychee.