In the high-altitude central hills of Burundi, the recipe to produce high quality coffees is built into the land. Coffee has grown to represent 80% of the nation’s exports, alongside a significant tea industry. Here, in a mix of community and family lots, smallholder farmers utilize nutrient-dense volcanic soil to produce coffee while maintaining subsistence plots of livestock, fruits, and vegetables to support and feed their families.
Our partners at JNP lead by Burundi native and organization founder, Jeanine
Niyonzima-Aroian have been working with farmers in Burundi since 2012. Social responsibility is a cornerstone of JNP. With goals like women's empowerment, financial literacy and the Dushime second payment program, allocating funds, resources and education for coffee producers. Jeanine truly cares about the people who make these coffees possible, and creating equity for producers is an ongoing part of JNP’s vision.
“We are here to make a difference and to experience joy in the process.”
—Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian
Jeanine and her team noticed that there was a community producing consistently outstanding coffees. JNP made the decision to isolate these coffees and give the lots from this community the Kirundi name of Bahire, which translates to “be well”.
This washed Bourbon variety is a shining example of what thoughtful harvest, processing, and sorting can achieve. Ripe cherry is harvested and expeditiously floated, depulped and washed before being milled and sorted once more. The cup is extremely dynamic, with ample sweetness, fruity acidity, and tea like florality.
I’m proud to continue our relationship with JNP now, and for many years to come.
