Karimikui

Country: Kenya
Area: Kirinyaga County, Githure Town
Processing: Washed
Varietal: Batian, SL28 & SL34
Altitude: 1600-1800 MASL

chocolate ganache
concord grape
pineapple

The Rungeto Farmer’s Cooperative Society (FCS) was set up after the renowned Ngairiama FCS was liquidated. Along with Kii and Kiangoi, the 3 coffee factories located south of Mount Kenya have more than 850 cooperative members. Located near Githure town, the Karimikui factory processes cherry for more than 2500 smallholder farmers in Kirinyaga.

Coffee is selected from member cherry, and fermented in the traditional ‘double wash’ method with fresh river water from nearby rivers, and sundried on raised beds, with drying time between 8 and 14 days.

It’s less common to see pure SL28/SL34 selections these days; by using a mix of cultivars, most of the disease resistance from the new cultivars (Batian in this case) help to ensure that farmers significantly reduce the risk of leaf rust and coffee berry disease.

Central Kenyan coffees seem to show more yellow fruit character (after the usual black berries & cola), in this AA lot, we have a very rich almost melted chocolate texture, as well as fresh ripe pineapple sweetness and lychee-like acidity to finish.