Nav: Home > Coffee >

Cultivation and Geographic Location of Specialty Sun-Dried Bourbon Coffee Beans from Kayanza Province, Burundi

Published: 2026-01-28 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/28, Burundi is located in east-central Africa, south of the equator. It borders Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, and shares a southwestern shoreline with Lake Tanganyika. The country is characterized by high plateaus and mountains, with most of its territory consisting of the eastern plateau of the Great Rift Valley. With an average elevation of 1,600 meters nationwide, Burundi is known as the "land of mountains." More than half of the country is situated along the famous Lake Tanganyika.

Burundi is located in the southeastern part of central Africa, just south of the equator. It borders Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, with its southwestern edge along Lake Tanganyika. The country is characterized by high plateaus and mountains, mostly consisting of the eastern plateau of the Great Rift Valley, with an average elevation of 1,600 meters nationwide, earning it the name "Mountain Country." More than half of its territory lies on the famous Lake Tanganyika. The capital is Bujumbura. The western lakeside and valley regions, as well as the eastern part, have a tropical savanna climate, while the central and western regions feature a tropical highland climate. The average annual temperature ranges from 20-24°C, with highs reaching up to 33°C. The period from March to May is the major rainy season, October to December is the minor rainy season, and other months are dry seasons.

Burundi coffee shares striking similarities with that of its neighboring country Rwanda, and the coffee produced by these two nations is often confused by consumers. Burundi's coffee cultivation is predominantly Bourbon variety, using traditional wet processing methods for coffee cherries. The main characteristics of its specialty coffee include elegant sweetness and bright citrus aromatics. This batch belongs to the Bourbon variety micro-lot.

Coffee Details

Variety: Bourbon

Processing Station: Panja Processing Station

Flavor Notes: Grape skin, orange wine, fermented fruits

This batch is a natural processed Bourbon micro-lot, with the growing region located at Marthadi Peak in Panja Processing Station, Kabuye District, Kayanza Province. The elevation is extremely high, with mountainous areas exceeding 2,000 meters above sea level. The soil is fertile with gravelly texture, making it highly suitable for coffee cultivation and recognized as Burundi's finest coffee processing station.

Burundi Coffee Heritage

Burundi has one of the world's most diverse and successful coffee industries, with its own unique characteristics. Coffee was introduced to the country by Belgian colonists in 1930 and is now grown only on small farms. Unfortunately, many of these farms are located in areas bordering the frequently troubled Rwanda, which puts pressure on coffee production. Almost all coffee produced in Burundi consists of Arabica coffee beans, with coffee trees in Ngozi planted at elevations over 1,200 meters. Burundi's coffee features rich and aromatic flavors with excellent acidity, with most exports going to the United States, Germany, Finland, and Japan.

Flavor Profile

Tasting Notes: Rich aromas of raisins, blackberry jam, and ripe peaches. The front palate reveals sweet flavors of cranberry, citrus, and peach juices, while rich sweetness from caramel and orange jam permeates the entire cup. The fermented wine-like notes from natural processing are also prominent, reminiscent of orange wine or peach flavors—truly a distinctive Burundi specialty coffee.