Rwanda coffee tour
Rwanda coffee tour : Coffee in Rwanda is a principal cash crop for export and serves as a tourism attraction for people interested in exploring estates. Coffee in Rwanda dates back to 1904, when missionaries introduced the first coffee trees during their visits to the country. The missionaries introduced the trees and urged the natives to cultivate coffee. Gradually, as the populations acclimated to coffee cultivation, production in the country increased, leading to coffee being grown for both domestic consumption and export. As of 2019, coffee is Rwanda’s predominant cash crop, and global coffee connoisseurs affirm that Rwanda cultivates some of the highest quality coffee globally; indeed, Rwandan coffee was recognized as the best in the world.
Rwandan coffee consists of 95% Arabica Varietal Bourbon; the beans, influenced by their cultivation environment, typically exhibit subtle flavors of lemon, orange, or caramel when chewed, and consistently possess a silky, creamy mouthfeel.
In Rwanda, over 60% of farming communities cultivate coffee for export and local consumption; notably, communities in Gisenyi, located on the beaches of Lake Kivu, produce coffee that contributes to the country’s tourism appeal. While coffee continues to be cultivated for export and local consumption, certain plantations and washing stations are accessible to tourists, enabling them to gain a greater appreciation of Rwandan coffee.
The travelers who visit the coffee fields and washing stations are elated by the experience due to the richness inherent in the entire coffee cultivation and processing procedure. The tours of coffee plantations and washing stations are conducted by local farmers from community cooperatives, who guide visitors through the plantations and washing facilities, elucidating the various stages of coffee production from cultivation to consumption. During these trips, tourists have the opportunity to participate in the processes of harvesting, sorting, grading, fermenting, drying, and roasting coffee. You will also have the opportunity to sample some of the processed coffee.
Coffee trips are available year-round for a price of 50 USD per person, excluding transportation and other associated costs. The excursions typically last four hours or somewhat longer, contingent upon the activities, and can be abbreviated at your request.
On this excursion, you will depart from Kigali city and travel 3 to 4 hours northwest to Gisenyi, where you will embark on a boat ride to the coffee washing stations and plantations.
Coffee plantations and washing stations do not organize coffee tours; thus, you must coordinate and reserve your tour through a travel operator or the Rwanda Development Board.
Depending on the season of your visit to the coffee plantations or washing stations, you will observe either rich cranberry-red coffee beans or green beans indicative of the harvest and budding phases, respectively.
During visits to farms in the blooming seasons, there may be less harvesting activities, prompting you to observe various phases of coffee manufacturing.
During the harvest period, a visit to the farms reveals farmers collecting rich cranberry red coffee beans, adept at distinguishing between fully matured, partially matured, and underdeveloped beans.
Upon harvesting the beans, farmers will transport them to washing stations, where the beans will undergo washing, manual sorting, pulping, fermentation, and grading in accordance with established standards set by the national coffee regulatory authority.
Subsequent to this activity, which may require several days to a few weeks to process the entire harvest, the beans are placed on elevated screens to sun-dry. Once adequately dried, as determined by the farmers’ expertise in distinguishing between dry and undried beans, they are transported to Kigali for milling.
Consequently, that will be all you observe at the washing station. The growers will guide you through several plantations while elucidating numerous aspects of coffee.
Your journey will culminate in sampling the unique, excellent, and award-winning coffee cultivated and prepared in Rwanda.
During your coffee trip, you will have the opportunity to engage with the coffee-growing communities and interact personally with the individuals who cultivate this coffee.
The washing stations you are scheduled to visit are:
1. Kinunu Washing Station
This station is the most frequently visited; it is situated south of Gisenyi and strategically overlooks the shores of Lake Kivu, providing picturesque views when visiting the coffee washing stations.
The coffee at this washing station is procured from local farmers cultivating coffee in proximity to the facility, as well as from partner cooperatives that supply coffee to the station.
Access to this washing station is available via water conveyance, utilizing a boat on Lake Kivu to get to the station, or by bicycle along the Congo Nile trail.
2. Ingoboka
Ingoboka is located adjacent to Kayove hamlet, situated between Gisenyi and Karongi. The Ingoboka collective oversees coffee processing, managing multiple washing stations and plantations in the Ingoboka region and Nyamirundi Island. Coffee from Ingoboka is recognized by global experts as one of the finest Arabica coffees available.
In Ingoboka, beans that are not carried to Kigali following the washing process might be roasted and then brewed there. This is commonly referred to as crop-to-cup coffee.
While planning your coffee tour, consider visiting the washing stations. However, upon returning to Kigali, be aware that these journeys may exceed four hours, necessitating accommodation near Gisenyi.
Accommodation facilities in Gisenyi are well furnished and prepared to meet all your requirements, particularly for sleeping and dining. Consult a tour operator for recommendations on accommodations that align with your preferences and financial constraints.
As you prepare to visit Rwanda this season, consider participating in a coffee tour; it will be a delightful experience.