On the edge of the Nyungwe forest, at between 1,700 and 2,000 metres above sea level, 340 families grow a coffee of almost theatrical elegance.
The cooperative
Terres de Nyungwe was founded in 2009 in Rwanda’s Southern Province, right beside the Nyungwe forest, one of the last great forest massifs in East Africa. The cooperative today counts 340 producer families, whose farms are deliberately small — averaging 0.5 hectares each. This fragmentation is also a strength: it demands extreme rigour on every plot, every harvest, every pass through the shared washing station.
Since 2018, the cooperative has been chaired by Alphonsine Uwimana, an agronomist trained at the University of Butare. Under her leadership, Terres de Nyungwe has grown from a relatively confidential local production to lot quality stable enough to attract the attention of specialty coffee buyers in Europe.
The terroir
- Region : edge of the Nyungwe forest, Southern Province
- Altitude : 1,700 to 2,000 m
- Varieties : Bourbon, Jackson
- Process : washed, at the shared washing station
- Number of producers : 340 families
The high altitude slows cherry ripening and concentrates sugars in the bean. The proximity of the Nyungwe forest creates a cool, humid microclimate, ideal for Bourbon, which develops pronounced floral aromas here. Jackson, a more resilient local variety, brings structure and complexity to the lots.
The coffee’s journey
Harvest takes place between March and July. Producers pick the cherries at full ripeness, sort them by hand, then bring them to the shared washing station. There, they undergo a washed process : immediate pulping, controlled fermentation, washing in clear water and drying on raised beds. This treatment highlights the purity of the terroir and gives the cup a rare clarity.
After drying, the coffee leaves in parchment for the port of Mombasa or Dar es Salaam, then sails for Marseille. On arrival at Maison Soleil, Thomas Reinach, our Head of Roasting, applies a light roast to preserve the lot’s lively acidity and aromatic finesse.
Our partnership
Camille Vasseur discovered the first samples from Terres de Nyungwe in late 2021. A trial lot of four 60 kg bags was imported at the end of 2022. The tasting verdict was immediate: jasmine, white peach, orange blossom. The multi-year contract was signed in 2023.
- First trial : late 2022 (four 60 kg bags)
- Multi-year contract : signed in 2023 for 18 tonnes/year
- 2025 volume : 22 tonnes/year
This partnership is now one of the pillars of our Signature subscription and of the blend Terres Ensoleillées.
In the cup
The Rwanda — Terres de Nyungwe is naturally enjoyed as filter or V60. The cup is luminous, almost mineral, with very clean citric acidity.
- Tasting notes : jasmine, white peach, orange blossom
- Intensity : 3 / 10
- Roast : light
- Certifications : direct trade, organic
- Available formats : 250 g and 1 kg (whole bean)
This is a coffee that asks for a little attention — and repays it a hundredfold.