THE ‘WARM HEART OF AFRICA’
Described as the ‘warm heart of Africa’ this fairly small landlocked country has so much wildlife, culture and apart from its friendly smiling people, Malawi is also known for its extraordinary lake, which also boasts being the third largest lake in Africa.
THE COFFEE
Lake Malawi was once called by Dr Livingstone himself ‘The Lake of Stars’. If like me, you took the romantic notion of being able to see the starry night whilst perhaps laying on the banks of the Lake, you are, like me mistaken.
The reasons we love coffee from Malawi?
Malawi is one of the smallest producers of coffee, taking up less than 1% of the world market. South of Malawi generally produces coffee large scale on commercial estates. However, in the central and northern regions of the country, coffee is produced primarily by smallholder farmers. The coffee receives scrupulous attention from these smallholder producers and this, together with the high altitude and the heritage of its varietals make these coffees worth roasting!
Our coffee is high grown and sustainable produced by smallholder coffee farmers from Viphya Hills which is a grassland plateau overlooking Lake Malawi (altitude of 1600 masl) and the Phoka Hills in the Rumphi District, where…yes…you’ve guessed it, Dr. Livingstone himself camped near the Nyika National Park (coffee here grown at altitudes up 1700 masl).
Unlike other African coffees, these are grown on terraces and minimal use of inorganic fertilisers and chemicals helps produce high quality coffee!
MZUZU COFFEE PLANTERS COOPERATIVE UNION
And that’s how it should be and that’s how it is. The aim is that each farmer achieves decent accommodation, food security, warmth and education.There are 6 cooperatives in the Union, two of which I have mentioned above. The union’s aim, just like in most coffee producing countries, is to ensure that the quality of life of the farmers and their families is improved.The Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative Union (MCPCU) was set up in 1979 as a parastatal but ownership was transferred to the coffee growers in 1999.
However, the 3000 member farmers (25% women) have been growing coffee since the early 1930's.
So, first you need to taste the coffee, so grab yourself a bag from us, get your brewing gear out, enjoy and save up for a visit to Malawi!Aside from producing coffee through smallholders, the union actually runs a commercial farm you can visit, coffee shops – known as Coffee Dens – and the Mzuzu coffee suites.
