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What are the coffee-growing regions in Malawi? What coffee varieties are cultivated in Malawi?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (official account: cafe_style). Mzuzu is a union cooperative composed of 5 primary farmer cooperatives, with approximately 4,000 farmers. Its full name is: Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative Union, abbreviated as MZCPCU. Similar organizations can be found throughout East African countries. These 5 primary

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For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style).

Introduction to Mzuzu Coffee Cooperative

Mzuzu is a union cooperative composed of 5 primary coffee farmer cooperatives, consisting of approximately 4,000 farmers. Its full name is Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative Union, abbreviated as MZCPCU. Similar organizations can be found throughout East African countries.

Coffee Growing Regions

These 5 primary cooperatives are all located in important coffee-producing areas in northern Malawi. They are respectively located in:

1. Misuku Mountain area (Chitipa District)
2. Phoka Mountain area (Rumphi District)
3. Viphya Mountain area (Rumphi District)
4. Mzimba Eastern Mountain area (Mzimba District)
5. Nkhata-Bay Highlands (Nkhata-Bay District)

Coffee Characteristics

Mzuzu coffee comes from 45 washed processing stations scattered across northern Malawi. Therefore, these regions produce coffee beans with different characteristics, but generally speaking, Mzuzu coffee can be said to be very high-quality Arabica, with aromatic flavors, medium body, rich taste, and a fusion of many flavors.

The underlying notes of dark chocolate allow the sweetness to be discernible, while a bright orange flavor emerges from the fruity notes, followed by subtle grapefruit flavors in the finish. If you enjoy rich fruit and chocolate flavors with medium body, then this is the coffee for you... Generally, properly roasted hard beans will have a tight white silver skin along the center line, which ensures perfect and lasting flavors. FrontStreet Coffee believes that Mzuzu hard beans are the best choice for Vienna or Full City roast.

Cultivation Details

Mzuzu is grown by nearly 4,000 farmers from 5 regions in northern Malawi, at altitudes ranging between 1200-2900 meters.

The Mzuzu Smallholder Union Cooperative, as mentioned above, mainly has 5 coffee production areas. Each area has a coffee producer association, whose main tasks are breeding, cultivation guidance, educational training, organizing farmers, and maintenance of industry roads. Farmers can freely buy and sell their harvested coffee cherries, unlike Kenya's centralized auction system, so the relationship between farmers and the government is relatively harmonious.

As for Malawi's cultivated varieties, all are Arabica species, especially Agaro and Geisha. Since the Agaro variety has weaker resistance to CBD (coffee cherry disease) and leaf rust, many farmers have switched to growing Catimor varieties. Of course, some farmers still grow Mundo Novo, Blue Mountain, and Caturra varieties that were introduced by missionaries in earlier years.

About FrontStreet Coffee

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans, while also providing online shop services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com