KENYA ELSHADAI COFFEE ESTATE NATURAL

Elshadai Estate coffee is a high grown top-quality coffee from the slopes of the Aberdare Mountains in the central highlands of Kenya, just south of the Equator. The focus of coffee production on the farm has always been high quality.

Torch Coffee recently began operations in Kenya and they are establishing new relationships with producers throughout the country.

This lot is the first that Torch has brought in from the Elshadai Coffee Estate. Below are some of the initiatives undertaken by the Elshadai Estate in their agricultural and community practices.

● Shade-planting and re-forestation 

● Recirculation of coffee by-products (pulp) into the fields to build organic matter content

● Encourage proliferation of predators hence reduce usage of chemical use

● Encourage growth of cover crop to protect the soil from direct sun

● Soil conservation measures by planting Bermuda blue grass and digging erosion basins to hold soil run off

● Adoption of a conservation program in order to maintain quality and quantity

● Use of Kenya Coffee Growers Employees Association code of conduct as a guiding principle on workers 

It is rare to see a naturally processed coffee come out of Kenya. The Swahili word used for naturally processed coffees is "mbuni" which is the same term used for low-grade coffee or the defects left after a lot is processed. The use of this term means that naturals are often viewed as lesser quality than washed coffees.

Kenya has a long-standing history of exceptional and clean washed coffees. Naturals are getting their time in the spotlight, slowly but surely. Lots like this one from Elshadai are reminders that there are excellent naturals to be found in Kenyan coffee.

We have only worked with a few Kenyan coffees over the years, as naturals are not common in their coffee production. This lot is one of the most black tea-like coffees we have ever tasted. Up front, we're tasting a blueberry sweetness with a creamy mouthfeel and a bergamot finish.