Kenya Kathima
Hibiscus, Apricot, Oolong
Description
Country/Region: Kenya/Embu
Varietal: SL28, SL34, Batian, Ruiru 11
Processing: Washed
Elevation: 1600 - 1900 m.a.s.l.
We Taste: Hibiscus, Apricot, Oolong
This coffee comes from the Kathima Factory, located at the slopes of Mount Kenya. This washing station is operated by Thambana Farmers Co-operative Society, who gets its name from the Thambana river, which supplies the factory with fresh water from Mt. Kenya.
This area of Kenya sees a biannual production cycle, with producers owning small land sizes of 130-200 coffee trees, around 1600-1900 metres above sea level. The coffee is grown alongside other crops such tea, passionfruit, and flowers. The Kathima Factory gives out the pulp removed during processing, to use as compost.
During harvest season, the coffee cherries are handpicked and brought to the factory, contributed by 1400 members picking cherry. Coffee is weighed before it undergoes the pulping process, and then fermented overnight. It is soaked for a further 24 hours and dried over 7-15 days, before the parchment is milled.