Description
A bright, delicate washed Burundi lot from Masenga hill, offering notes of raw sugar, cinnamon stick, rose tea, and lemon with a crisp, clean finish.
This lot from Masenga hill delivers a profile that leans onto the bright, delicate side for Burundi, balancing a crisp structure with rich, unrefined sugar sweetness. The dry fragrance opens with a potent aroma of maple sugar, unrefined sugars, and warm baking spices. On the palate, a smooth foundation of raw sugar is layered with distinct notes of cinnamon stick, rose hips tea, and a touch of lemon essence. The body is light to medium, complemented by a bright, tartaric acidity that gives the cup a exceptionally clean, refreshing finish.
The coffee undergoes a traditional fully washed (wet) process that emphasizes cup clarity and high-toned floral spice complexity. Smallholder farmers carefully hand-pick fully ripe Bourbon cherries before delivering them to the washing station. The cherries are depulped and subjected to a controlled water fermentation to break down the natural fruit mucilage. Following fermentation, the seeds are thoroughly washed in clean water channels to ensure a pristine parchment before being spread across raised African drying beds. The parchment is regularly turned by hand to encourage uniform drying and protected during peak sun hours and cold nights, preserving the lot's crisp, delicate character.
Cultivated along the high-elevation slopes of Colline Masenga ("Masenga Hill") in Burundi, this lot is produced by local smallholder farming families. In Burundi, coffee cultivation is centered around these "collines" (hills), where small family plots average just a few hundred trees planted in nutrient-dense volcanic soils. Grown at high altitudes where cool mountain temperatures slow cherry maturation, the classic local Bourbon variety develops an abundance of complex sugars and delicate organic acids. Centralized receiving and meticulous processing at the local washing station allow smallholders from Masenga hill to pool their harvest and showcase the unique microclimate of their region.