Flavor and taste characteristics of Arabica coffee beans in Nigeria and coffee bean producing countries in Africa

Arabica coffee production in Nigeria

Although Robusta coffee accounts for most of the country's coffee, a small number of small farmers in Nigeria have begun to grow higher-quality Arabica coffee. However, due to lack of awareness, limited market access and very small harvests, there is little reason to grow it.

Arabica coffee is grown only in two states: the Kros River and Talaba. According to a source, about 110 different varieties of Arabica coffee are currently being tested in the Mambilla plateau in Talaba, although the exact varieties used are not clear.

Because the amount of information about Nigerian Arabica coffee is very limited, there is no flavor characteristic of universal attribution. However, Princess says Happy Coffee's "Nigerian blended coffee" is grown in Talaba with chocolate and fruit flavors and floral scents.

Mai Shayi is another coffee brand springing up in Nigeria. It sells a range of high-altitude coffee, many of which are sweet and fruity.

Interestingly, as early as the early 1900s, seed stocks purchased by producer Mai Shayi were introduced into the Nigerian Highlands from Jamaica.

The Future of Nigerian Coffee

First of all, it is pointed out that there must be government intervention in the industry to make real progress.

If there is no coffee association to encourage and raise production standards, she says things will not change.

"We want to see more agricultural centralization and the empowerment of female producers," she said.

However, some progress has been made on the horizon. The bill establishing the National Tea and Coffee Development Commission has been passed through the Nigerian National Assembly. If approved, this could be the driving force needed by the Nigerian coffee industry.

Princess told me that she was also actively involved in the development of a new data platform to support local coffee farmers. The platform was established in partnership with African Exchange Holdings (AFEX), a private commodity trading company based in Abuja.

According to its website, AFEX specializes in setting up commodity exchanges online and providing warehousing services for African farmers. Over time, perhaps an initiative like this could lead to the development of centralized commodity exchanges and a formal system for marketing and trading Nigerian coffee.

It is clear that change is necessary if Nigeria's coffee industry is to grow in the future. Entrepreneurs like Princess are leading the trend, but government intervention is still essential.

She concluded: "We should invest in Nigerian coffee because it has a future." There's work to be done.

"once we have a road map and national policies with private sector participants, things will start to get better."