Zinule Bulambuli. Uganda. SL28. SL14. Washed. 

Every bean has a story
This is our first coffee from Uganda and it is simply wonderful!

BULAMBULI WASHING STATION

Bulambuli Washing Station was built in the first half of 2021. It is located in Bulambuli town in Mt. Elgon, east Uganda, close to the Kenyan border. Cherry purchase, pulping, fermentation and dripping (pre-drying) as well as drying of most of the washed coffees happens at the site. The coffee arrives from 200 - 400 smallholder farmers who deliver their cherries directly to the Station.

Besides the washing station, they have a drying yard and warehouse down in the outskirts of Mbale town. Mbale is the capital city of the east. The naturals are mostly dried at the yard down in Mbale town (1 hour away) with additional drying capacity. This allows them to manage fermentation and drying of the naturals more thoroughly.

The area’s high altitudes are ideal for producing quality coffee, whereas the lower altitudes are used for drying purposes. At the drying yards, highly specialised professionals focus on ensuring an optimal, controlled drying process.

The varieties of this region are similar to Kenya, as farmers predominantly grow SL14, SL28 and SL34. The cherries come from smallholder communities, from farms that are less than 1 hectare each.

The farms are managed by family members and are located in parishes, or communities. Each parish acts as the administrative centre for 7-12 villages. These villages can be home to as few as 200 people. The farmers often work in groups, with an individual allocated as their leader.

HARVEST & POST-HARVEST

In Eastern Uganda, the harvest is between August and January. In the lowlands, the harvest runs between August and October, while in the higher altitudes, it’s from September until January.

The cherries are either bought at small collection centres or delivered directly to the washing station. They are then sorted. Depending on the process, they are either taken to the pulping area or to the drying yard in Mbale. Sometimes, the cherries are delivered directly to the yard for sorting and drying.

Washed coffees are usually pulped, fermented, and dried on site. As for naturals, the cherries undergo a thorough selection process when farmers deliver them to the washing station. They are then taken to the drying yard and fermented on drying tables. This is done by adjusting the layers of the coffee, depending on the type of preparation and fermentation.

 

If you are not a fan of Uganda just check other origins here.