To begin talking a little about African varietals , we must understand the context as a continent that promoted coffee, millions of years ago. They say that coffee is actually born in Ethiopia. , with a tradition that has survived for generations, also tell a legend in the province of Sidamo, in which one day, a shepherd saw how his sheep became excited by eating a red fruit in some bushes, the shocked shepherd took them to his supreme monks, but when they tasted it and noticed its bitter flavor, they threw the fruit into the fire; minutes later they began to smell a pleasant aroma, it was the seeds in the fire. This infusion allowed the monks to stay more awake to have more hours of prayer and that today it has become the base of exportation of this continent.
African origin
Ethiopia produces Arabica coffee , with a record figure in 2007, when they produced 344,000 bags, thus boosting production and attracting coffee substitutes with stimulating effects within the region. In addition to the legend of the shepherd, the country's inhabitants have established a custom of eating the fruits of the coffee trees, mixing the cherries with fat, pepper, and other spices, and offering them to guests as an aperitif. Currently, coffee production in the country covers approximately 400,000 hectares, located primarily between 1,300 and 1,800 meters above sea level. The coffee from this country is considered a quality bean, with just over 1.3% caffeine , high acidity, good body and an aromatic and sweet flavor, with light spaced nuances, ideal for drinking in the afternoon. The most famous variety is CAFÉ SIDANO, which has chocolate notes and a pleasant spiciness.
Some varieties from Africa
- Malawi coffees are considered among the best in the world. , comes from the Arabica variety, they are elegant with just the right acidity and a round body.
- Tanzania, like most of Africa, produces Arabica coffee. Its quality is highly comparable to that of Kenya, a country renowned for its wide variety of coffees, medium acidity, and full body. Among the most renowned coffees is the TANZANIA KILIMANJARO, which has a sweet and fruity flavor.
- Kenya is one of the best organized countries in Africa when it comes to coffee. , has strict quality controls in its production. Its varieties range in sweetness and fruity notes, many of them with subtle hints of lemon. They have very penetrating aromas, such as the KENIA KIUNDI variety, which has a chocolate and red fruit flavor with a cherry undertone. Since 2010, scientific development work has been underway on a variety called BATÍAN, which has yielded good results, but is not yet commercially available.
- Uganda, despite its internal conflict and its limited expansion in the world, has managed to conquer markets such as Spain, producing coffees with a powerful flavor, with citrus and aromatic notes; mainly producing Robusta varieties.
- Cameroon coffee , It is recognized for being very fine in the cup , also their largest production is of the Robusta variety. Recently, they have developed some 100% blends of this variety, such as CAFFÉ NEW YORK CAMEROÚN, which impresses with new flavors significantly different from Arabica. It is an ideal coffee for espressos due to its long-lasting and highly aromatic flavor.
- On the island of Madagascar, coffee production is growing, including its export to Europe, with France being its largest consumer, as they are ideal for preparing espressos. with an intense aroma and a very bitter taste, Which is why they recommend mixing it with some chocolate. It's one of the African coffees with the highest caffeine content.
- Angola has its largest production of Robusta coffee, which is dry-grown and highly sought after by its former settlers… the Portuguese.
- Burundi has a particularity, They are small coffee producers , which is not widely consumed in his country because everything is exported, is a high-quality Robusta variety coffee.
- Mozambique is home to the famous BLUE MOUNTAIN variety, highly prized in Europe, with the paradox that it is not a major exporter of coffee but of high-quality black tea varieties.
- Reunion Island, located in the Indian Ocean, west of Madagascar, is a French colony. where the famous BOURBON coffee is created , referred to as one of the most expensive varieties in the world and with little access to people, is an exclusive coffee .
As we can see, it's very difficult to generalize African coffee varieties. Growing conditions and plant variations have demonstrated the quality produced on this continent, the birthplace of coffee production. Whether true or not, the legend of the shepherd and the monks, through observation of their animals and experimentation with fire, has introduced us to a wealth of experiences surrounding the coffee fruit .