Gitura Coffee Factory

Description

Gitura AA

This delicious Kenya comes to us through our friends at Red Fox Coffee!

Gitura Coffee Factory is located in Central Province of Murang’a County’s Iyego subregion, within the Kangema Division near Kangema town. Established in 1980, it rests on a 6-acre piece of land serving Gaite, Miakini, Giti, and Mahuga villages. Membership currently stands at 700, with a uniquely high production rate. The factory itself lies about 1,750 masl on land rich with red volcanic soil.

The area experiences temperatures ranging between 13-26 degrees Celsius. The longer rainy season runs between March and May while the shorter one comes between October and December. The area experiences a biennial production cycle with the early harvest being from March through May and the later second season being from October through December.

The farms here are mostly very small (1-2 hectares) and adults work the farms while children attend school all day. Schools here cost money, which unfortunately limits access to education and future opportunities in this mostly-poor area. Due to lack of opportunity, much of the young population is migrating en masse to cities in search of better jobs, leaving their parents alone on the farms or even taking their parents and abandoning their farms. This problem gets worse each year, but some producers remain hopeful that coffee can provide good business opportunities for their children.

Producer Information:

Producers — Gitura Coffee Factory

Region — Kangima Town, Murang’a County, Central Province

Varietals — Ruiru 11

Terroir — 1,750 masl, 13-26 degrees Celsius, temperate climate

Process — Washed

A juicy, well balanced and sweet coffee with aromas of plum, apple, and brown sugar. We tasted blackberry and pink grapefruit with a refined lemon and sandalwood finish.

Text from Plowshares' listing.