Clean and sweet with notes of sour cherry, raspberry jam and nectarine.
54°19'46.3"N
2°46'21.6"W
54°19'46.3"N
2°46'21.6"W
54°19'46.3"N
2°46'21.6"W
54°19'46.3"N
2°46'21.6"W
54°19'46.3"N
2°46'21.6"W
54°19'46.3"N
2°46'21.6"W
54°19'46.3"N
2°46'21.6"W
54°19'46.3"N
2°46'21.6"W
54°19'46.3"N
2°46'21.6"W
54°19'46.3"N
2°46'21.6"W
The Kilimbi Washing Station is located spectacularly on the eastern shore of Lake Kivu in Rwanda’s Western Province. It was the first washing station to be established by the young and innovative Muraho Trading Company (MTC) whose focus is on quality, and showcasing Rwanda’s great potential for high-grade speciality coffee.
Since building Kilimbi in March 2016, MTC has gone on to establish the Gisheke, Rugali, Shyira, Vunga and Bumbogo washing stations, and we look forward to exploring all that they have to offer with you over the coming months and years. But right now, it’s time for Kilimbi to take the spotlight with this stunning natural bourbon.
Kilimbi was the first washing station in Rwanda to be granted approval to produce natural and honey processed coffees, and its has set the bar in this respect. This year 1,078 farmers in the surrounding area delivered their coffee to Kilimbi. The coffee is hand-sorted, then floated to separate out under-ripe or damaged cherries, before being laid out to dry on traditional African raised beds. The grass and weeds below the beds are meticulously maintained and removed to prevent ground moisture interfering with the drying process, and the large open plain across which the beds are constructed ensure plenty of airflow and sunlight for optimal drying conditions.
The quality of the processing is evident in the cup. The coffee is is incredibly clean and bursting with fruit flavour. We think it tastes like sour cherry, raspberry jam and nectarine - in short, lip-smackingly delicious.
Muraho Trading Company is the brainchild of Gaudam and Karthick Anbalagan, two Kiwi brothers who were raised to call Rwanda home. They are motivated by showing the world not only the very best that Rwandan speciality coffee has to offer, but also the people and the country that they feel have given them so much.
