Description
Rwanda Busanze is a coffee that comes from the Busanze washing station, which is located in the Nyaruguru district of Rwanda’s Southern Province. This area is situated at a very high altitude (often between 1,900 and 2,100 meters above sea level) and is bordered by the Nyungwe Forest, a dense rainforest. This unique location and high elevation contribute to the coffee’s rich density and complex flavor profile. The majority of the coffee grown in this region, and throughout Rwanda, is the high-quality Red Bourbon variety of Arabica
History:
Rwanda has a tumultuous history, and coffee is a central part of its story of recovery and rebuilding. Coffee was first introduced to Rwanda by German missionaries in the early 1900s. Under Belgian colonial rule, coffee became a major cash crop, but farmers were often forced to grow it and were paid poorly, leading to a focus on quantity over quality. The 1994 genocide had a devastating impact on the country, including the coffee industry. In the years that followed, international and government support, including projects like the Partnership for Enhancing Agriculture in Rwanda through Linkages (PEARL), helped to rebuild the industry. The focus shifted from mass production to high-quality specialty coffee. A key part of this strategy was the establishment of communal washing stations. These stations provide a centralized place for smallholder farmers to bring their freshly picked coffee cherries for processing. This allows for better quality control, improved processing techniques, and a more direct connection to the global specialty coffee market. The Busanze washing station itself is a newer development, having been established in 2018. Despite its recent creation, it has quickly gained recognition for quality, with one of its lots ranking 7th in the prestigious Cup of Excellence competition in 2018, its first year of operation. The washing station and the surrounding cooperatives, such as the KUN cooperative Koperative Umurego Nteko), have played a vital role in empowering local farmers, particularly women, and helping the community to rebuild through the coffee trade. The success of Busanze is a testament to the resilience and dedication of the Rwandan people in their pursuit of producing world-class coffee.