Kenya - Gethumbwini Estate AA - Lot No:879

Coffee: Gethumbwini Estate AA
Farm: Gethumbwini Estate
Varietal(s): SL28, SL34
Processing: Fully washed and screen-dried
Owner: SOCFINAF
City/Town: Thika
Region: South central Kenya, north of Nairobi
Country: Kenya
Certification: N/A
The Gethumbwini Estate is set in the Aberdare Ranges - part of a 160 km long mountain range north of Kenya's capital Nairobi - located in west central Kenya south of the Equator at about 1700 metres above sea level.

Coffee is planted on approximately 360 hectares. Gethumbwini Estate is situated at an altitude of 1800m and receives rainfall of 1000mm per year which falls principally in two rainy seasons. The temperature ranges from 15-26C throughout the year. The area is rich in red volcanic soil making it an ideal place for the growing of fine quality coffee.

However, at 360 hectares the Estate is huge and as with all big Estates it can become hard to manage a consistent quality crop and for the most part Gethumbwini produces a commodity based crop that's used in main stream coffee - not the speciality arena. However - some lots are of outstanding quality and stand up among some of Africa's finest coffees.

Gethumbwini coffees are processed by company-owned hulling facilities, offering employment to some 100 full time personnel and a further 200 seasonal workers during the picking season. Processing is carried out by wet pulping. The coffee then undergoes overnight fermentation before it is then washed, soaked and sun-dried on raised screens (or 'African beds') after which it is then stored in conditioning bins until it is milled. There are two distinct harvests - the early crop in June/July and the late crop in October/December.

Abundant wildlife is found on the Estate and the farm members are educated about the importance of preserving these species which include snakes, hares, owls, weaver birds, hawks and - the main attraction - hippos.

Employees on the farm are provided with a number of benefits including housing with clean drinking water and electricity. Full medical care is also provided for both the employee and his/her family at a clinic with a qualified nurse on the farm. There is also a school for the workers' children.

Coffee, from Kenya

N/A

Tasting Notes: The cup exhibits - full body with mid range notes of grapefruit and blackcurrant with hints of pineapple and caramel notes - a really lovely coffee.