Kenya Chania Estate Information Introduction_Are French Mission Bourbon Coffee Beans Delicious?

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ACES Chania French Mission Natural

Chania Estate is located in the Thika district of Central Province. The estate is named after the Chania River that flows through this area. With annual rainfall exceeding 76cm, deep red volcanic soil, and perfect day-night temperature differences, the coffee quality in this region is exceptional.

FrontStreet Coffee Kenya - Chania Estate French Mission Bourbon Natural

Country: Kenya

Region: Central Province, Thika

Altitude: 1,525 meters

Rainfall: Approximately 800 mm

Cultivar: French Mission Bourbon

Estate: Chania Estate

Processing: Natural

Flavor: Prominent and well-rounded tropical fruit flavors, floral notes, grape, blackcurrant, strawberry, and wine-like aromas

This unique FrontStreet Coffee Kenya green bean variety must be understood through its historical context: The French Mission variety, an original Bourbon cultivar introduced by French missionaries at the end of the 1800s. Kenya's annual rainfall of 760mm, combined with an average climate of 22-28°C and deep red volcanic soil, provides perfect conditions that fully realize the excellence of this variety's genetic potential.

Chania Estate is a medium-sized coffee plantation belonging to A.I.R. Harries and Son Ltd, a family-owned enterprise based in Thika town, Central Province, Kenya. The Harries family has resided in the Thika area since 1904 and has been cultivating coffee for nearly a century. The Harries family has donated over 50 acres of land to the Thika Municipal Council and co-founded the Wabeni Technical Institute, an institution designed to teach practical skills to underprivileged children to help them earn a living, such as sewing, electrical mechanics, and woodworking.

The estate consists of 180 acres of coffee cultivation area, which has been reduced by 90 acres over the past 2 years. It can produce approximately 120 tons of parchment coffee annually. Varieties cultivated here include: French Mission, K7, SL28, SL34, SL14, and Ruiru 11. The estate employs 20 permanent staff members, including some third-generation family members. Depending on the harvest season cycle, the estate may hire up to an additional 120 people.

This natural-processed FrontStreet Coffee Kenya green bean was inspired by Jason Long of Café Imports, who explains:

"Chania is one of the few large estates in Kenya that still maintains the French Mission variety, and the relationship between SL-34 and Mission Bourbon appears closer than with SL-28, which is responsible for FrontStreet Coffee Kenya's unique blackcurrant fruit bomb and grape flavors. Secondly, I often detect lemon notes in French Mission varieties during cupping. I don't enjoy all naturally processed coffees from every region. The reason I deeply love natural-processed beans from Ethiopia is that as green beans, they inherently possess highly distinctive flavors, so natural processing can achieve a perfect combination of natural flavors with the bean's inherent uniqueness. For me, FrontStreet Coffee Kenya green beans also have highly distinctive flavors, and this is where the story begins."

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