- Tanzania
- July - October
Tanzania Mbeya Mwangoka Farm Natural 2024
Tanzania Mwangoka Farm Natural Green Coffee
The Grivas family took up stewardship of GDM Farm over 20 years ago, and as the second generation to manage one of the few Tanzanian-owned coffee estates, Richard Grivas has his sights set on improving quality and the local community through the farm. Over 200 seasonal workers are part of GDM’s operation, and the farm also supports a network of smallholders living in the surrounding vicinity.
Only around 5% of Tanzania’s green coffee comes from large estates. GDM Farm spans 400 hectares at an altitude of 1980msl in the southern highlands near the Mbozi meteorite that was discovered in the 1930s.
Natural Process Green Coffee in Tanzania
GDM Farm produces 300 metric tons of washed Arabica and 100 metric tons of natural Arabica green coffee annually. Most of Tanzania’s coffee volume is wash processed, but estates like GDM Farm have the resources to carry out uncommon methods like naturals to further explore the flavor profiles that Tanzanian green coffee has to offer.
Workers harvest ripe cherries on the estate and deliver them to the pulping unit and drying station on-site. The cherries are hand-sorted to separate perfectly ripe, overripe, and underripe fruits before they’re set out to dry on raised beds. It can take up to 21 days to dry a harvest, depending on the weather, and the cherries are turned often to ensure even drying and good quality. GDM Farm also has a milling station on the estate, where the dried cherries go to be prepped for export.
Tanzania Green Coffee Varieties
Bourbon and Kent are the typical varietals grown in Tanzania, but the threat of coffee berry disease and leaf rust has motivated the Tanzania Coffee Research Institute to develop new, compact hybrids that are both disease-resistant and high-yielding.
Tanzanian Green Coffee Bean Production
Tanzania has all of the potential in the world. It is one of the largest countries in Africa by area, and its annual Arabica production rivals its better-known neighbor, Kenya. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicts that Tanzania’s green coffee production will grow at one of the world’s fastest rates, but supply chain complexity could slow things down. Learn more in our Tanzanian Green Coffee Origin Report.
GEOGRAPHY:
Region Songwe, Mbozi District
Altitude 1450-1850
PRODUCER:
GD Mwangoka Farm, Grivas D. Mwangoka
VARIETY:
Bourbon, Compact
PROCESSING:
Natural
HARVEST TIME:
July - October