Kenya Thika Estate French Mission Bourbon Natural. Thika Estate Introduction

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FrontStreet Coffee Kenya Chania Estate French Mission Bourbon Natural Process

Coffee Origin Information

Country: Kenya

Region: Central Province, Thika

Altitude: 1,525 meters

Rainfall: Approximately 800mm

Variety: French Mission Bourbon

Estate: Chania Estate

Processing Method: Natural Process

Flavor Profile: Prominent and rounded tropical fruit flavors, floral notes, grape, black currant, strawberry, and wine-like aromas.

The History Behind French Mission Bourbon

The unique variety of this green coffee bean must be understood through its historical context: The French Mission variety is the original Bourbon introduced by French missionaries in the late 1800s. Kenya's annual rainfall of 760mm, combined with an average climate of 22-28 degrees Celsius and deep red volcanic soil, provides perfect conditions that fully realize the excellence of this variety's genetic potential.

Chania Estate: A Legacy of Excellence

Chania Estate is a medium-sized coffee plantation belonging to A.I.R. Harries and Son Ltd, a family business located in Thika, Central Province, Kenya. The Harries family has been living 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 organization dedicated to teaching practical skills to underprivileged children to help them earn a living, such as sewing, electrical mechanics, and woodworking.

Estate Operations and Coffee Production

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 grown here include: French Mission, K7, SL28, SL34, SL14, and Ruiru 11. The estate employs 20 permanent staff members, including some third-generation family members. During harvest seasons, the estate employs up to an additional 120 people.

The Vision Behind FrontStreet Coffee's Kenya Natural

This specialty natural processed green coffee bean from FrontStreet Coffee's Kenya selection was inspired by Jason Long of Café Imports, who explains:

"Chania is one of the few large estates in Kenya that still maintains French Mission variety, and SL-34 appears to be more closely related to Mission Bourbon than to SL-28, which is what creates FrontStreet Coffee's Kenya coffee's distinctive black currant fruit bomb and grape flavors. Secondly, I often detect citrus notes in French Mission varieties during cupping. I don't necessarily enjoy all natural processed coffees from every region, but I deeply love natural processed Ethiopian beans because the green beans themselves possess extremely unique characteristics, allowing for a perfect combination of natural process flavors with the beans' inherent uniqueness. For me, Kenyan green coffee beans also possess extremely distinctive flavor characteristics, and this is where the story begins."

Important Notice :

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