Origin - Burundi

Region - Runinya, Kayanza province

Process - Honey

Producer - Izuba washing station, Runinya area smallholders

Altitude - 1500-1700m

Variety - Red Bourbon

Tasting notes - Apricot, jasmine, raspberry

Izuba, meaning “sun” in Kirundi, is located in Runinya, Kabarore Commune, of Kayanza Province. It is situated near the Kibira national park where the soil and climate create conditions suited to growing high quality coffee. Kigeri, Ryamukona, and Mugoyiare the three hills surrounding Izuba and the three areas from which coffee is collected or delivered.

Each volume of cherry sold to Izuba is recorded by producer and hillside, showing the minute variances in profile from locations surrounding the washing station. For this honey processed lot, All cherry is hand-sorted before a pre-pulp float, where any under-ripe or damaged cherry is removed. The selected cherry is then pulped in preparation for a dry fermentation.

Then they head to the African raised beds, where they are intensively hand-sorted throughout drying. Based on the prevailing weather, the coffes are batched together in order to control the evenness of the drying. The drying process takes 30 days on average.

Once the coffee has been fully processed, the remaining coffee pulp is turned into a natural fertiliser as it degrades. When ready, it is distributed to local farmers to add nutrients to their soil.

Izuba aims to provide premiums where possible to not only the farmers but also the station staff. The employees were paid 25% higher than other local washing stations and 33% more than the national average salary.