Coffee: A Tanzanian Story

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February 24, 2022
Coffee: A Tanzanian Story

Imagine waking up one morning and seeing Mount Kilimanjaro in front of you. For you, it might mean you are still dreaming, for Tanzanians and those who visit this country is just a regular morning. Kilimanjaro and Tanzanian coffee are trademarks of this area and their best ambassador. And if Mount Kilimanjaro is there all the time, you still have to open your eyes to see it. That is where Tanzanian coffee might come to the rescue. 

History

When coffee first came to Tanzania, brought by Catholic missionaries, it was difficult to predict that it would become one of the top coffee producers in Africa. Some of Tanzania's population, namely the Haya people, used it in a manner that might sound odd nowadays, but at the time it seemed like the perfect thing to do: they chewed it instead of brewing it. More than that, beans were even used instead of money. Arabica, their most notorious coffee plant, began to be grown back in the 1890s, with Bourbon as the first variety. Coffee remained an internal affair în Tanzania until German colonists interfered and mandated Tanzanian farmers to grow Arabica as a crop, spreading the coffee plants within the country and turning it into an industry based around Kilimanjaro mountain. 

Then the British, their new colonists after Germans lost it following the First World War, tried to make it more profitable, developing an industry along the Kenya border. În 1920, Tanzanian farmers started to organize in order to make the market easier to access, but their international recognition came only after the two colonies, Tanganyika and Zanzibar combined to form Tanzania and achieved independence in 1964. The 1970s saw a significant growth of coffee growers, but it was not until the 1990s that the growers were allowed to sell directly. Nowadays, Tanzanian coffee is famous all over the world.

The Tanzanian coffee industry

Widely aware of the economical potential of their coffee, Tanzanians are taken their second-best ambassador after Mount Kilimanjaro very seriously, having a lot of institutions coffee related: Tanzania Coffee Board, an industry regulator on production and marketing, Tanzania Coffee Development Trust Fund, managing resources for coffee development activities and stakeholders, Tanzania Coffee Research Institute, making all coffee-related research, Tanzania Coffee Association, a private association of coffee traders, Tanganyika Coffee Growers Association, an association that gathers coffee estate growers. 

Even more proof of their strong relationship with coffee is their approximately 450,000 families growing coffee, an amazing 90% share of the total coffee producers, the rest of 10% is taken care of by estates. Indirectly, no less than 2.4 million of their population estimated at 40 million make a living from coffee. 

Coffee is a special export for Tanzania, around 20% of its total export income, bringing employment and revenue to this country that might be struggling without it. Tanzania produces no less than around 30-40,000 metric tons of coffee per year, being the 19th largest coffee producer in the world. Coffee exports bring over 60 million dollars every year to their economy. 

Growing regions

Having a diverse landscape, many regions în Tanzania are perfect places for the coffee plants to be grown, but it is important to add that each region produces its own coffee beans. Using slightly different methods according to the region coffee is produced, its flavor might differ too.

The most distinctive and quality coffees produced în Tanzania come from the coffee plants grown în the Northern areas, on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. Tanzanian Arabica coffees grow in truly exotic locations under banana trees. Beans coming from this region are of high quality and are called SHG (Strictly High Grown). The most appreciated coffees benefiting from the altitude the plants are grown are called Arusha, Moshi, and Kilimanjaro. The Japanese are their top importer of beans, Kilimanjaro Coffee being a brand name highly appreciated in Japan. It is good to know that not all the varieties called ”Kilimanjaro Coffee” originate in this region.

Other regions Tanzanian Arabica coffees are grown in are the Southern Highlands of Songwe, Mbeya, and Ruvuma. Interestingly enough, coffee is intercropped here with bananas, while some areas are pure stand.

Arabica coffee covers almost 70% of total production în Tanzania. We have also Robusta coffee, grown along with Lake Victoria, în the western region, covering the remaining 30%. 

Classification

Obviously, not all coffees produced în Tanzania have the same quality. Their system classifies coffee by quality and bean size. The highest grade is AA, followed by A, AB, B, PB, and C. 

Processing

98% of Arabica coffees are wet-processed.

Taste

Tanzanian coffee beans showcase a bright acidity. With a deep and rich taste, their coffees have a distinctive flavor, depending on the region they are from. Some coffees are softer, especially those coming from the Kilimanjaro region. We can describe the overall taste like a sweet and fruity one, with some berry notes. Their beans have a taste ranging from kiwi or blackberries to chocolate. A coffee roaster can influence the end result, showing off a floral scent, while roasting to a dark roast can emphasize berry or pepper spice flavors.

Area covered by coffee: Tanzania has an estimated area under coffee of 265,000 hectares for both of their famous coffees, Arabica and Robusta. 

Harvesting period (maincrop)

  • North: July to December
  • Southern: July to December
  • Western: May to October

Endnotes

If you want to taste the best Tanzanian coffee you should choose the one coming straight from the hills of Kilimanjaro. Their famous coffees are Arabica and Robusta, their export bringing over 60 million dollars to their economy every year. Depending on the region, you can expect different flavors, some mild, some strong, and some sharp. Like the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.