Coffee review

What are the characteristics of Ugandan coffee | introduction to Ugandan coffee producing areas and flavor characteristics

Published: 2025-08-21 Author: World Gafei
Last Updated: 2025/08/21, Most of the coffee grown in Uganda (80 per cent) comes from the variety Coffea canephora var.robusta, while the remaining 20 per cent includes Arabic varieties such as Typica,SL 14 and SL 28 and Kent. The Arabica variety Bugishu / Bugisu (Arabica coffee variety bugishu) is also grown in Uganda, which grows near Sipi Falls on the Shanxi slope.

Most of the coffee grown in Uganda (80 per cent) comes from the variety Coffea canephora var.robusta, while the remaining 20 per cent includes Arabic varieties such as Typica,SL 14 and SL 28 and Kent. The Arabica variety Bugishu / Bugisu (Arabica coffee variety bugishu) is also grown in Uganda, which grows near Sipi Falls on the Shanxi slope. Elgon, one of the largest mountains in Uganda.

Region: Uganda (Bugisu)

Growth height: 1300-2200 m

Variety: Arabica (Typica, SL 14, SL 28, Kent)

Harvest season: October-February

Treatment process: full water washing

Aroma: Woody, orange peel

Bouquet: citrus, fruity, white tea

Body: smooth

Acidity: medium

Coffee growing areas are generally divided into:

West Nile (Okoro-bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan to the northwest)

Northern region (lira, Gulu)

East (Mbale, Bugisu-bordering Kenya)

Central and southwestern (Jinja, Mukono, Kampala, Massaca-Lake Victoria)

Western region (Kasese, Mbarara-bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo)

The western region produces a lot of Arabica coffee, which grows well at high altitudes, including Mount Ruwenzori (Mount Rwenzori) (in fact, the top of Mount Ruwenzori snows).

Flavor

A cup of easy-brewed Bugisu coffee is similar to a good cup of East African coffee, with sweet chocolate flavor and rich taste. In general, Ugandan coffee is of low complexity and lighter taste, so it is generally of poor quality compared with quality coffee from neighboring Zimbabwe, Tanzania or Kenya.

Lobusta in the Lake Victoria basin is well suited for clay-rich soils and benefits from some of the high elevations in the region. Their acidity is higher than that of Robbins towers grown at low elevations, so they are a good choice.

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