Mutitu

This release is grown by smallholders surrounding the town of Kathekiini, in the north of the Kirinyaga region. Each delivers their cherry to the Mutitu station, founded by a group of farmers from Kathekiini in 1963. Kirinyaga is just one of many iconic growing regions lying in a belt across the southern slopes of Mount Kenya, bordered by Nyeri and Embu to the West and East respectively. The soils here are rich and fertile, and mainly used to grow tea. During a drive through the rolling hills here, it is actually rather rare to see a coffee tree, with just a few plots interspersed between swathes of tea. On certain turns in the road, the looming silhouette of Mt. Kenya reveals itself from behind the lush green, contrasting with the iconic dusty red volcanic soil. These soils, alongside mostly dry and warm conditions during harvest, are some of the keys behind Kenya’s incredible coffee quality potential.

Combine this excellent raw material with the traditional Kenyan ‘double soak’ washed process, and the result is an excellent example of Kenyan character, with a deep intensity reminiscent of stewed berries and currants, lifted by a note of fresh lemon.