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Country: Burundi
Province: Kayanza
Collines: Nkonge
Washing Station: Heza
Producers: 370 farmers
Variety: Bourbon
Process: Washed
Elevation: 2,000-2,200 masl
Tasting Notes: Black Tea, Warming Spices, Stone Fruit
Notes on the land and coffee processing method from our importer, Osito:
"Life has a different pace on Nkonge hill. There is a stillness on the hill that is hard to find anywhere else in Burundi. You can walk for stretches on this green carpeted hill without seeing anyone. Dirt roads cut into the hill’s steep slopes, revealing panoramic views of banana trees and lush tea plantations. The high elevation of Nkonge fosters harder, slower growing coffee cherry. Natural springs find their way out of the hill, making sure its soils are always well watered. Patches of onions, tea, wheat, cabbage, maize, cassava and peas can be found growing alongside coffee in the hill’s rich soils. Two of Long Miles’ farms can be found on Nkonge’s slopes, directly across from Heza washing station. Here, our 5,334 coffee trees are grown alongside our neighbors’ trees.
Heza Washing Station processes its coffee by pumping spring water from a nearby natural spring. During the washed process, freshly harvested cherries are delivered by coffee farmers to the Long Miles Coffee Washing Station, then floated and hand-sorted for ripeness upon arrival. The cherries are pulped and undergo a 36-hour fermentation. This fermentation takes place under water and is covered by a plastic tarp. After fermentation, the parchment is sometimes ‘footed.’ During footing, a team will agitate and dance on the slippery coffee parchment, helping to loosen any remaining mucilage clinging to it. It is then rinsed in fresh water, graded by density and left to soak for another four to six hours in the final rinse tank. The parchment is carried to covered drying tables where it spends between six to forty-eight hours pre-drying. During this time, it is hand-picked for under-ripeness, over-ripeness, insect damage and visual defects. It is then moved to traditional African raised tables where it spends between sixteen to twenty days slow drying (depending on the weather) until it reaches the ideal 10.5% moisture level."
Previously we have purchased coffee from the Heza washing station and we are happy to bring back another beautiful selection this season. Nkonge is one of the Hills closest to Heza Washing station. This washed processed Burundian coffee is our first of the season. The epitome of that classic profile we all know and love from coffees out of Burundi; Nkonge's delicate sweetness is perfectly balanced by pleasant tea-like and earthy notes.
Imported by: Osito Coffee/LMPC
