Burundi Butegana

This coffee highlights the unique Red Bourbon variety, which, when processed naturally, exudes a yellow hue prior to roasting. The 'Butegana' washing station, with its roots tracing back to 1972 as Burundi's inaugural washing station, carries a name that translates to "place of attack." This moniker stems from an historical skirmish between Rwandan and Burundian forces. Today, the station supports approximately 3,700 local coffee growers from 24 adjacent regions, with each farmer possessing less than half a hectare.

On average, these farmers tend to around 200 coffee trees, each tree producing about one and a half kilos of coffee. During the harvest season, Butegana oversees the processing of over 1,250 tonnes of coffee cherries. The drying process involves placing cherries on raised beds for a period of 10-14 days, contingent on the prevailing weather conditions. Continuous surveillance guarantees ideal moisture content, while meticulous hand-picking ensures the removal of any apparent defects.

At Butegana, the emphasis is on adhering to Good Agricultural Practices (G.A.P). This approach provides multifaceted support to farmers, spanning from efficient farm operations and tree trimming to mitigating the effects of climate change. Additionally, the station offers financial literacy courses, promoting the notion of small loans to bolster individual enterprises