BURUNDI ​MASHA FW

General Information

Origin: Burundi
Region: Kayanza
Sub-Region: Gatara
Washing Station: Masha
Cultivars: 100% Red Bourbon
Altitude: 1672 masl
Process: Fully washed with double fermentation and sundried on African beds
Harvest: April - June 2019
Grade: FW15+
Warehouse: Barcelona, Budapest & Santiago
Packaging: 60 Kg w/ GrainPro
Score: 85+
Notes: Cola, peach, caramel, red apple
Ikawa profile: http://bit.ly/360ZnMC
Preparation: Espresso and milk based drinks

TRACEABILITY

Masha is probably one of the most famous washing stations in Burundi. Its cup quality and intense sweetness stand out in any cupping table. That is why is not surprising that it is constantly in the highest ranks of the Burundi Cup of Excellence competitions, where in fact, in 2014 came 8th with a washed lot that scored 88.18.-

The Masha washing station was built in 1989 in the commune of Gatara, province of Kayanza. It is located at an altitude of 1672 masl. Masha derives its name from the large number of cows and livestock activity ("amasha y'inka" in Kirundi) in the area.

This washing station receives cherries from more than 2,500 local farmers distributed in 12 neighboring hills. During the harvest season, Masha processes more than 400 tons of coffee.

HISTORY OF COFFEE IN BURUNDI

Coffee arrived in Burundi during the 1930s with the Belgian colonial government. The Belgian government, which oversaw and administered the twin territory of Rwanda-Urundi between 1922 and 1962, made coffee cultivation mandatory during this period. When the Belgian government withdrew, many coffee growers stopped caring for their trees because it was no longer mandatory. However, many also saw the economic advantages of continuing to grow coffee, and the industry became the center of Burundi's national economy.

The coffee industry in Burundi remained managed by the public sector until the beginning of the 21st century, when the local government privatized some elements of the coffee production chain, such as dry mills and washing stations. As a result of this relatively recent change in conjunction with the country's political instability, today, there are very few foreign companies involved in the coffee sector in Burundi.

Currently, the coffee industry in Burundi is driven by about 2 million small coffee farmers who produce more than 80% of the country's total coffee export. To put this number in perspective, consider that the total population of Burundi is only slightly less than 11 million people, so these small coffee farmers represent almost a fifth of the total population.

All coffee trees in Burundi are Arabica. Although it was tried to introduce Robusta with the establishment of a large plantation. "Fortunately," this plantation was destroyed during a civil war and riots at the end of the last century.​

CULTIVATION

Almost all coffee in Burundi are of Bourbon variety, which is strictly controlled by the government for quality reasons. Due to the increasingly small size of coffee farms, aged coffee trees are a very important problem in Burundi. Many coffee growers have coffee trees with more than 50 years, but with small land to cultivate, it is difficult to justify that they are completely out production during the 3-4 years that it will take new plantations to start producing.

Despite the ubiquity of coffee cultivation in Burundi, low productivity is a predominant tendency. The small producer on average has approximately 300 trees, usually in their backyards. Each tree produces 1.5 kilos of cherry, so the producer sells around 400-500 kilos of cherry per harvest, and this generates an annual salary of no more than USD 100 (See the video below for more information about it).​

BURUNDI COFFEE FARMERS SALARY​

MASHA CWS LOCATION
CONTACT
[email protected]
+34 675 608 692
WHERE WE ARE
Barcelona, Spain
Santiago, Chile
​Budapest, Hungary