Distribution of coffee producing areas in Kenya, introduction of Kenyan coffee

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Kenya is bordered to the north by Ethiopia, the origin of Arabica coffee trees, but it was not until the beginning of the 20th century that coffee cultivation began. In the 19th century, missionaries introduced Arabica trees from the leaves, but did not plant them in large quantities. It was not until 1893 that coffee was cultivated on a large scale after the introduction of Brazil's ancient bourbon seeds. That is to say, Kenyan coffee was of Brazilian origin. Due to the differences in water, climate and handling, the taste of Kenyan beans is very different from that of Brazilian beans. Brazilian coffee is planted at a low altitude, with soft texture and no obvious sour taste. In contrast, Kenyan coffee trees are mainly concentrated on the slopes near Mount Kenya, about 4 to 6500 feet above sea level, which is suitable for coffee beans to develop their flavor, because the mountain temperature is lower and the growth is slower, and the aromatic components of coffee beans are fully developed. the acidity of the fruit is more obvious and the texture is harder. In addition, Kenya was an early British colony, and the British had established a set of perfect cultivation and quality control system. After Kenya became independent, the coffee industry was built on its existing foundation.

There are two types of coffee farms in Kenya. One is a large plantation that covers an area of more than five acres, but the average elevation is low. In the case of Kenyan coffee, the coffee beans of the large farms are of medium quality. The best Kenyan beans come from small farms, most of which are located in the foothills or volcanic slopes above 5,000 to 6,000 feet. Each small farmer has a capacity of only 20 to 70 bags per season and cannot afford to invest in expensive washing plants, but small farmers are very United. Hundreds or thousands of households are gathered to set up a cooperative farm, which is funded by the government to build a washing treatment plant, and the coffee fruits picked by small farmers are sent to the cooperative farm for unified processing. First remove the half-ripe or rotten fruit, then peel, ferment, decompose the flesh, remove the coffee beans, then dry and polish, the whole process is supervised by the official Coffee Administration, which ensures the quality of Kenyan coffee. Kenya bean washing processing technology and high standards of quality control, has always been an example of bean-producing countries.

Kenyan coffee is mostly grown at an altitude of 1500m, 2100m, and is harvested twice a year. To ensure that only ripe berries are picked, people must tour the forest about seven times. Kenyan coffee is grown by small farmers. After they harvest the coffee, they first send the fresh coffee beans to the cooperative cleaning station. The washing station sends the dried coffee to the cooperative in the form of "parchment coffee beans" (that is, coffee beans covered with endocarp) to the cooperative ("parchment coffee beans" is the last state of coffee beans before peeling). All the coffee is collected together, and the growers charge the average price according to their actual quality. This trading method generally works well and is fair to both growers and consumers.

Kenyan coffee-status quo

Kenyan coffee beans the Kenyan government takes the coffee industry very seriously, where it is illegal to cut down or destroy coffee trees. Kenyan coffee buyers are world-class high-quality coffee buyers, and no other country can grow, produce and sell coffee on a continuous basis like Kenya. All coffee beans are first acquired by the Kenya Coffee Commission (CoffeeBoardofKenya, CBK), where they are identified, graded, and then sold at weekly auctions, where they are no longer graded. The Kenya Coffee Commission only acts as an agent to collect coffee samples and distribute them to buyers so that they can determine the price and quality. The auction in Nairobi is for private exporters, and the Kenya Coffee Commission pays growers a price below the market price. The best coffee grade is bean berry coffee (PB), followed by AA++, AA+, AA, AB and so on. The fine coffee is shiny, delicious and slightly alcoholic. Auctions are also organized to meet the needs of dispatchers. This kind of auction usually has a small auction volume (3-6 tons each), with samples with the grower's logo for buyers to enjoy. After the auction, the exporters pack according to different flavors, different qualities and the quantity required by the blenders. This provides a great deal of flexibility for the dispatcher. Quality-conscious Germans and Scandinavians are long-term buyers of Kenyan coffee.

On an international scale, the increase in the number of Kenyan coffee is obvious, with exports of 800000 bags in 1969-1970 and increased to 2 million bags in 1985-1986. Now the yield is stable at 1.6 million bags, with an average yield of about 650kg per hectare. Even before coffee prices skyrocketed in recent years, the average price of coffee in Kenya had been rising. Prices in 1993-1994 were 50% higher than they were 12 months ago. The rise in prices is mainly the result of increased demand.

Some buyers, especially Japanese businessmen, have expressed dissatisfaction with the Kenyan coffee industry system. Some businessmen say that the quality of coffee in the country has declined, and point out that buying directly from farmers may be a way to improve the quality. But in any case, Kenya's detailed rules and regulations and sound procedures are a model for all coffee-producing countries.

Kenyan Coffee became more famous with the sensation of the Hollywood movie OutofAfrica. Merrill in the film. Karen, the heroine played by MarylStreep, is a writer and coffee planter. Many people may still remember the beautiful scenery and the magnificent sunset in the film, but what is even more unforgettable is Karen's dream of having a coffee plantation in Africa.