Coffee from Malawi
If you haven't heard of Malawi before, it is a landlocked country in the South-East of Africa, surrounded by Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania. It is also known as ”The Warm Heart of Africa”, due to the friendliness that characterizes the locals.
In this region, arabica coffee was introduced only in the 1890s, by British colonizers. Even then, it still hadn't become much of a priority for the Malawi people, as they relied more on lumber, tea, peanuts, and tobacco productions. Only in 1964, when they gained independence, did they start to see coffee as a profitable crop.
Mzuzu Coffee
Once the coffee business started to take off, the farmers formed a democratic and empowered union, known as Mzuzu Coffee. They work together to make sure that they offer the best quality possible and also keep in constant touch with their customers in order to keep them satisfied and meet their needs.
Besides this, they also take care of the 3.000-4.000 smaller farms around the country, guaranteeing them decent work conditions, like food security, accommodation, warmth, and also a good level of education. These small farms are organized in six cooperatives: Ntchisi East, Viphya North, South East Mzimba, Nkhatabay Highlands, Phoko, and Misuku.
In order to promote their movement, Mzuzu has also opened several coffee shops alongside ”coffee suites”, facilities that are family-friendly and non-smoking.
Malawi Beans
Typically grown at an altitude between 3000 and 8000 feet above sea level, they are at the top of African coffees, with a pretty high quality, especially the crops which are grown at a higher altitude. The main characteristics are a full-body, smooth flavors, and the cherry on top… hints of chocolate! The good part is, the description doesn't stop there. Alongside the sweetness, you can also notice faint blueberry and citrus notes. Sounds delicious! Even so, the Malawi coffee falls behind the Ethiopian and Kenyan competitors, but we still think that being at the top alongside them is still as good of an achievement.
One thing that stops the Malawi people from raising their product rates is the poorly done pesticide and fertilizer spread, therefore causing many crops to die prematurely because of disease. This happens mainly because many estate owners don't yet see green coffee as their main source of income. Instead, they focus on tea, macadamia, and tobacco crops.
Even in these conditions, Malawi coffee is able to sell for a premium price on the international markets like Europe, Japan, and America, but still, the production is not high enough. With the help of investors, this economic area could truly bloom more than ever before. Some companies have already taken the responsibility to guarantee a bright future for the people working to grow the coffee, either by providing a decent living or investing in processing machines for washing and de-pulping, as roasting is not needed. This is another great thing about Malawi coffee! Because the beans are exported green, every single buyer has the opportunity to personalize their coffee through the roasting process, while still maintaining the unmatched Malawi influences.
What do you think? We believe that this coffee is worth the try, as not only do you get to enjoy the richness of one of Africa's coffees, but you also have the opportunity to aid in the development of a beautiful, friendly, warm, and hardworking community.
If we caught your interest even by the slightest chance, we invite you to visit Cafendo or Malawian Coffee to test out for yourself the wonders of Africa. Even if what we previously described doesn't really fit your taste, we can assure you that with the wide spectrum of varieties and aromas the African continent has to offer, it is almost impossible not to find something you will fall in love with.
In conclusion, we are looking forward to your opinion on these beautiful varieties. After all, what can be better than an exotic cup of coffee? Happy brewing!