Description
A wonderful Tanzania Natural. Naturals are not common out of Tanzania, especially ones this good! Reminds me of a Burundi Natural. Fruit forward at lighter roasts but not the dominate tone, pulls some great darker tone balance with some stout like chocolate and spice.
Gaia Farm is a 620-hectare family-owned estate located in the Karatu district of Tanzania. Gaia is one of two farms managed by Neel and Kavita Vohora, siblings, multi-generation coffee growers, and agricultural entrepreneurs in this extremely unique part of East Africa. Both farms are cultivated along the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, the largest unbroken caldera in the world and a breathtakingly scenic landscape of escarpments and fertile open range that has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979.
Neel and Kavita are third-generation Tanzanians of Indian heritage, and their family has been in the Tanzanian coffee business since the end of the second World War. The family export business based in Arusha has more than 60 years experience in the country.
Tasting Notes: A tasty cup from light to dark! The best roast level will be personal taste preference. For those who enjoy a bit more fruit forward cup, the lighter roasts really pop the fruit tone out along with a hint of citric and silky smooth nutty/chocolate/herbal darker tones. With a more intense roast, the cup transforms into a chocolate-and-cocoa delight with smooth caramel sweetness, a cool hint of mint, and a delicate touch of pine and herbs—smooth and comforting. The profile overflows with green-mango brightness and ripe plum; a floral acidity reminiscent of mango or mandarin lifts the cup, while the cocoa base keeps it grounded.
Roasting Notes: An exceptionally versatile, forgiving bean—moderate chaff and uniform color make it easy to handle. Light roasts are more fruit forward and citric. Medium roasts highlight the mango spark, plum sweetness, and caramel-cocoa depth. Full City, just before second crack, offers the best balance: semi-sweet chocolate, mint-and-pine nuances, and a balanced floral acidity.
Kent is a coffee variety originating from southwestern India, derived from a Bourbon-related population. It was introduced to Tanzania in the 1920s and later spread to Uganda, becoming an important Arabica variety. The variety is believed to have descended from the first Bourbon seeds brought to India by Baba Budan in the 17th century. Kent was selected in 1911 from a single tree in Mysore, India, and widely planted there since the 1930s. It was initially known for its rust resistance, though that resistance has since diminished.
Since 1971, the Vohoras have owned about 1000 acres of farmland on the southern exterior slopes of the Ngorongoro caldera near the town of Karatu in Tanzania’s lush rift valley. The farms possess Rainforest Alliance certificate, and the family and their 50+ full-time employees on the farm have done a remarkable job of upkeep and preservation of natural beauty while also running a thriving coffee business. They are diversifying into macadamia and honey, provide temporary housing for harvest labor, and even supply land on the farm for local smallholders to grow beans – a mutually beneficial crop as the legumes fix nitrogen in the soil, a critical step in a healthy cycle of crops.
Neel’s sister Kavita runs the dry mill, roastery, and export business from Arusha, a two-hour drive away from the farms. Their father, Ajai, lives in nearby Nairobi, Kenya, and is still very much involved in the business of exporting coffee as well, and has been instrumental in maintaining the relationship. Kavita is a licensed Q-grader, a meticulous cupper and quality agent, and a mother. Neel is also a knowledgeable farmer with a persistent drive to experiment, has staffed the estate with experienced management. They both keep an army of pets around the offices, including terriers and ducks.
Of the 620 hectares that comprise Gaia Farm, 260 are planted with coffee. These planted hectares are sub-divided into 50 blocs by microclimate or coffee variety, allowing the Vohoras and their harvest staff of 800 to manage each specific need of the farm in an orderly way. Neel and Kavita have become synonymous with Tanzania specialty, the brother and sister have put their size and expertise to use introducing a dizzying variation of processing styles into the world. Some of which we are also lucky to cup and carry each year.
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