Origin: Uganda - Rwenzori

Empowering Coffee Farmers

The magnificent Rwenzori Mountains, famously known as the ‘Mountains of the Moon’, stretch for 120km along with Western Uganda and are home to the Bakonzo tribe. The high altitude, fertile soils and plentiful rainfall provide perfect conditions for growing coffee tree beans, while the pristine snow-capped peaks and the glaciers give rise to many rivers.

The Rwenzori region has a long coffee tradition. On average 2 acres, Bakonzo farmers work manually, with the help of the whole family, and traditionally group together to process the cherries. Coffee is a source of income that allows them to support their families and improve their homes. While farmers traditionally sell parchments and kibokos (dried cherries), more and more choose to sell the freshly picked red cherries to washing stations. This enables farmers to access quick payment for coffee and takes away the risk of drying coffee for the farmer, many of whom are not well equipped to dry coffee.  

The Donkey Lots

Many coffee farmers live high up on the slopes of the Rwenzori mountain range, which culminates at more than 5,000 M.A.S.L. The higher the coffee grows, the more slowly it matures and the more complex the cup profiles are.

To access the farms situated up the mountains off the beaten tracks, Agri Evolve has invested in donkeys which collect the ripe cherries of the farms located in remote areas.

The cherries are kept separate and assembled in "Donkey Lots", which celebrate the uniqueness and exclusivity of the coffee cherries.