Coffee was introduced to Kenya from Reunion Island by Catholic missionaries at the end of 1893.
Kenya's coffee industry is now considered one of the most advanced in the world.
Arabica coffee in Kenya is grown on highland plantations at an altitude of 1300 & mdash; 2000 meters above sea level.
Arabica is cultivated on both small and large modern plantations on the mountain slopes of the center and west of the country, on the border with Uganda.
Two crops are harvested per year, each in six to seven stages to ensure the necessary grain quality.
All coffee is purchased by the Kenya Coffee Board & mdash; CBK), which then tests, classifies and sells it at weekly auctions in Nairobi.
Coffee is classified mainly according to grain size:
- AAA (Most Painful & Shy Grains);
- AA (smaller grains);
- А;
- AA++;
- AB;
- В;
- etc.
In recent years, Kenyans have begun to designate coffee by the names of the gathering areas and producing cooperatives: Mun & shy; gala, Kahuhia, etc.
Coffee from Kenya is available in our online store
The best Kenyan coffee grown on the slopes of Kilimanjaro and Mepy produces a full, rich, finely balanced infusion with a moderate wine and fruit flavour.
The best varieties of Kenyan arabica resemble some varieties of Colombian coffee (according to the classification of the International Coffee Organization, Kenyan coffee is included in the group & laquo; Colombian soft arabica & raquo; along with the actual Colombian, as well as Tanzanian varieties).
The excellent quality of Kenyan coffee is the main reason that the demand for it is constantly growing in the world.
Naturally, purchase prices are also growing, as well as the volume of coffee collected and its export.
Coffee accounts for 26% of the value of the country's total exports.
Annual production averages 130,000 tons.
The area for coffee is 156 thousand hectares.