Kanzu rwanda

For the third year in a row, we have the pleasure of drinking coffee from the Kanzu Cooperative in Nyamasheke, Rwanda. The lush highlands of Rwanda’s Western province, with great access to the surrounding hills covered with coffee up to 2100 masl, plenty of rainfall, rich volcanic soil and diverse ecosystem, deliver some of the highest quality coffee in the country. Currently 535 farmer process their coffee through Kanzu, giving these farmers access to specialty coffee markets and quality driven premiums. The farmer members learn excellent agricultural practices, are registered under certification programs like Rainforest Alliance and are shown the importance of reinvesting to continue producing the best possible coffee. Kanzu is a shining example of an efficient processing facility that enables the members to showcase the quality they have produced. This encourages all to strive towards communal success. Finding new ways to prevent problematic issues through preventative maintenance, such as pruning, remove negative habitats and improving the relationship between the farmers and their crops.

The coffee sector in Rwanda put a focus on a specialty reconstruction as the country regained it’s footing in the world economy. Few coffee-producing countries have received the kind of focused aid that Rwanda has seen since 1994. The PEARL Project, continuing as SPREAD, were a series of collaborative development projects designed to rebuild the agricultural sector, including coffee & cassava, after the devastation of genocide & civil war. A wonderful 11 year project led by Dr. Tim Schilling with the agricultural programs of Michigan State and Texas A&M, provided a foundation for sustainable success with a focus on building washing stations, forming coops, and training agronomists, tasters and quality control personnel. In 2007, Kanzu received third place in the Golden Cup coffee quality competition, which allow the world to taste the potential of the Nyamasheke District. By 2012, Dormans Trading purchased the Kanzu washing station and spent the intervening years making investments in infrastructure, farmer training, and improving quality control.

One thing that feels special about Kanzu is that unlike other washing stations which are fairly accessible from the roads, Kanzu doesn’t have road access. So, after driving all the way up a winding road to a town called Gatare, then it’s time to hike the rest of the way. The station is nestled against a huge national forest called Nyungwe, so it’s protected for biodiversity and from deforestation. The forest collects cloud cover, generating a special misty microclimate that slows cherry maturation and protects the coffee from climate extremes. It’s right above Lake Kivu and the view looks down on the watershed, all the way down to the lake itself. Kanzu is on the downslope right below this forest, at an extremely high elevation, and we’ve always seen how the climate plays a huge role in the flavor development of these coffees. The cherries here ripen a lot later than most of the country and are frequently one of the last harvests of the season.

Most of Rwanda is planted with the French Mission Bourbon varietal that provides substantial structure for balancing the presentation of flavors. There’s a delightful sweetness combination of tangerine, cherry taffy and black date paste that layer themselves within a base of spiced rye gingerbread and subtle blackberry. Highlights of honeydew melon and lemongrass begin the transition of flavor and texture as this coffee cools, while a touch of cardamom and oolong tea add an elegant taste to accompany the silkiness that laces this gem together. The metamorphosis that is Kanzu shows the beauty of Rwanda and the continuous wonders of East Africa.

kanzu rwanda

• Origin - Rwanda

• Province - Western Province

• District - Nyamasheke

• Sector - Karambi

• Washing Station - Kanzu

• Lot - #20

• Altitude - 1800-2100 masl

• Varietals - French Mission Bourbon