Kanzu

About This Coffee

This coffee comes from Rwanda’s most renowned coffee-producing region, high along the shores of Lake Kivu. Coffees from this area are truly unique. In the cup we find purple fruit, baking spices, black tea, and citrus. In the wake of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, initiatives like the PEARL and SPREAD Project were launched to support agricultural rebuilding, focusing on coffee and cassava. Starting in 2001, these USAID-funded projects, alongside several universities, established washing stations, formed cooperatives, and trained agronomists and quality control personnel. The programs proved highly effective, enabling farmers to access international and specialty markets. The Kanzu washing station set a new standard for Rwandan coffee quality, opening up opportunities for producers across Rwanda. Varieties in Rwanda are not exactly straightforward. We know that Red Bourbon is what is primarily being cultivated; however, we don't know at what relative percentages. Based on the history of production in Rwanda there is also most likely a number of different mutations as well as some Mbirizi and SL34 being grown as well.