Rwanda’s coffee is grown by small-holder- farmers with about 175 trees per farm. With its high elevation, traditional arabica Bourbon trees, rich soil and good rainfall, Rwanda is perfect for growing high-quality coffee. Rwanda Blue Bourbon is a fully washed coffee that has an interesting flavor combining full body, complex cocoa and spice notes and a medium acidity.

High quality coffee from Rwanda didn’t exist until recently. Farmers grew low quality coffee and almost stopped growing coffee after political unrest and violence erupted in 1994

In 2001, two agencies, US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Agribusiness Development Activity in Rwanda (ADAR) helped farmers begin producing specialty coffee for the first time.

USAID and ADAR helped farmers write business plans and obtain bank loans to build washing stations and taught them how to cultivate arabica Bourbon beans. Washing stations are so important to Rwanda that the president attended many openings.

Starbucks first visited Rwanda in 2004 to sample coffees from several washing stations. We offered the first coffee from Rwanda in 2006. Now, specialty coffee accounts for 7 percent of Rwanda’s total coffee exports.

"Blue" in the name Rwanda Blue Bourbon refers to the blue-green color of the unroasted coffee beans produced at these washing stations, as well as the sparkling blue water found in the coffee-washing stations. "Bourbon" refers to the Bourbon variety of the Arabica species.

Rwanda is a small, rural country in Central Africa, just two degrees south of the equator. Mount Karisimbi is the highest point in Rwanda and part of the East African Rift Valley. Coffee is primarily grown in western Rwanda, on and around the Virunga mountains, and in central Rwanda near Kigali. Rwanda’s coffee is grown by farmers with about 175 trees per farm. With its high elevation, traditional arabica Bourbon trees, rich soil and good rainfall, Rwanda is ideal for growing high-quality coffee. Specialty coffee now accounts for seven percent of Rwanda’s total coffee exports.

Rwanda is a medium-bodied coffee with a balance of acidity and body that highlight slight floral and herbal characteristics. This coffee features interesting flavors of herbs and spice with a balance of acidity and body. Complementary flavors include herbs, citrus and cocoa. We are proud to offer this high-quality coffee that contributes to the sustainable livelihoods of these farmers.

Rwanda is not a Fair Trade Certified™ coffee, but is an example of how we pay premium prices for all of the high-quality coffee we purchase, working with farmers to ensure economic sustainability.

Blue refers to the color of the blue bourbon unroasted coffee beans.The Blue Bourbon is fancier with medium acidity, medium body with citrus and spice/herbal notes.Rwanda will have these flavors but will not be as dominant as the Blue Bourbon.