Tanzania Peaberry - Green Coffee

About the Origin

Coffee beans to plant were first brought over to Tanzania from Ethiopia in the 16th century. Until the arrival of German colonial forces in the 19th century, coffee was used primarily as a stimulant and bean cultivation was under the strict control of tribal leaders.  
Now, coffee is Tanzania’s largest export crop and accounts for 3.3% of the country’s net exports. Tanzania is the 15 largest coffee producing country in the world and responsible for about 0.6% of worldwide coffee production.

Growing Conditions

Tanzanian peaberry is grown in various regions of country; most of the coffees are grown on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru in the region on small mountainside farms at an elevation of between 4500 and 6000 feet.

About Peaberry

Usually, coffee cherries contain two seeds, or beans, flat on one side and rounded on the other. In the case of peaberries, only one seed is fertilized. This results in a single round seed with a ridge down the middle.

Peaberries are considered by some to be superior in quality and taste from regular flat beans. The reasons for this are twofold: The single bean contains all the flavor intensity of two beans, and the round shape of the beans results in a more even roast. While the first assumption has little basis in fact, it is true that the rounded shape of the beans does aid the roasting process. The perceived high quality of peaberry coffee is most likely as a result of the sorting process, which is more rigorous than that used to sort flat beans.

Cup Profile

Peaberry beans do taste the same as flat coffee bean even if the beans came from the same tree.  Peaberry coffee grown in Tanzania is known for its brightness and high acidity. A perfect caramelization roast achieved a rich, chocolate flavor, with hints of dark fruits like blackcurrant, and a soft, sweet finish. When roasted light you will get floral notes and hints of citrus fruit, coconut, and pineapple.

Suggested Extraction Method(s)

• Good for Drip/Filter
• Good for Espresso

Additional Information

• Region: Kilimanjaro/Moshi
  
• Altitude: 1400 - 1800 meters above sea level
• Variety: Arabica
• Process: Washed