Gethumbwini Estate AB

GETHUMBWINI ESTATE:
Regarded by some as Africa’s finest coffees, Gethumbwini Estate has been owned by French company, SOCFINAF, since 1957. The farm itself may be over 80 years old. General management is the responsibility of Group Manager, Mr. Harries, a second Manager, Mr. Ngungute, and his assistant, Mr. Gitonga.

LOCATION:
The farm is located in the foothills of the Aberdare Ranges overlooking the Chania River some 40km north of Nairobi, 120km south of Mount Kenya and a few km north of the industrial town of Thika. It comprises around 1000 acres. Coffee is planted on approximately 360 hectares. Gethumbwini Estate is situated at an altitude of 1,800m (6,000 feet) and receives rainfall of 1,000mm per year which falls principally in two rainy seasons. The temperature ranges from 15-26C throughout the year. The area is rich in red volcanic soil making it an ideal place for the growing of fine quality coffee.

VARIETIES: SL, K7, R11

PROCESSING:
Gethumbwini coffees are processed by company-owned hulling facilities, offering employment to some 100 full time personnel and a further 200 seasonal workers during the picking season. Processing is carried out by wet pulping. The coffee then undergoes overnight fermentation before it is then washed, soaked, skin-dried and then sun-dried after which it is then stored in conditioning bins until milled.

HARVESTS:
There are two distinct harvests - the early crop in June/July and the late crop in October/December. Total yield was 1,436 tonnes per hectare for the 2005/06 season, considerably less than the average annual yield.

ECOLOGY:
Abundant wildlife is found on the Estate and the farm members are educated about the importance of preserving these species which include snakes, hares, owls, weaver birds, hawks and – the main attraction – hippos.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:
Employees on the farm are provided with a number of benefits including housing with clean drinking water and electricity. Full medical care is also provided for both the employee and his/her family at a clinic with a qualified nurse on the farm. There is also a school for the workers’ children.

Cupping Date: 

17 December 2009

Clean Cup: 

Flawless

Sweetness: 

Sugar Browning

Acidity: 

Lactic

Mouthfeel: 

Syrupy, Round

Flavour: 

Grapefruit, Blueberry, Blackcurrant

Finish: 

Sweet, Medium Length

Balance: 

Acidity/Sweet

Overall: 

This AB lot from Kenya Gethumbwini Estate has a full body and rounded mouthfeel, with notes of dark ripe fruit such as Blackberries, medium acidity with hints of grapefruit and blackcurrant, very viscous and sweet finish

Cupping Score: