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Orkun Üstel
Since our establishment, we are introducing a Burundi coffee for the first time in our selection of specialty coffees! And we are extremely excited to offer this coffee to you. The reason is that this coffee is not just a product of taste, but also a representation of women's struggle for justice and equality in their country!
Burundi Rama coffee is the product of a community that fights against the patriarchal order strongly upheld in Burundi and the laws that functionally prevent women from owning land and inheritance. Organized under the leadership of Marie-Annonciate, these women continue their political struggle through lobbying activities in the parliament and taking actions, while also seeking agricultural land and income by exploiting loopholes in the laws. Despite the obstacles imposed by the laws, they started production with the support of Kahawatu Foundation and Greenco, a company overseeing washing stations in Burundi. We can say that the story of this specialty coffee begins with the revolution of women in production. ☺
After gaining access to arable land for livelihood, the members of the Rama Women’s Association received various trainings and support to enhance their agricultural skills. They spent two years preparing their agricultural land before their first harvest, along with conducting research and establishing a nursery to cultivate healthy coffee trees. They finally harvested their first crops in 2017.
Rama members handpick the coffee cherries and deliver them to the Mubuga washing station, ensuring traceability and quality assurance throughout the entire process.
The coffee cherries are processed in controlled washing stations, where they are first floated in small tanks for quality control purposes. This process separates high-quality cherries from damaged, unripe, or overripe ones. Subsequently, the coffee cherries are transported to drying stations and slowly dried under controlled conditions for 3-4 weeks. Through quality controls, any damaged or defective cherries that might have been missed are separated. The Mubuga station takes meticulous care to ensure that only the highest quality cherries complete the drying process. During this time, the coffee cherries are protected by covering them with tarpaulins during the hottest hours of rainy periods and at night.
After the coffee cherries are dried and separated from their husks, they are packaged and stored in the warehouse. Greenco’s expert team evaluates each batch in the laboratory, categorizing them based on the station, day, and quality. Information regarding the station, day, and quality is preserved for traceability throughout the entire process.
Burundi Rama, our first specialty coffee from Burundi, is not only remarkable in terms of taste but also represents the powerful and beautiful result of a remarkable journey of struggle. We are proud to present this coffee to you, both for its story and its flavor, and we send our support and greetings to the women’s fight in Burundi from Turkey!
Enjoy!
