Blackcurrant & Blood OrangeHarvest: December 2020 Country: Kenya Producer: Batichu Farmers’ CooperativeRegion: NyeriProcess: WashedVariety: SL-34, Ruiru 11, SL-28, BatianAltitude: 1,800 masl The first Kenyan coffee we ever tasted was from the Gatomboya washing station. It was so sweet and fruity, you could swear it wasn't coffee at all! When harvested and processed thoroughly, coffees from this part of the world can leave you with goosebumps. For a period of time, Gatomboya had endured operational hurdles due to political turbulence in the region. However, we are so happy to see they are back on track with a brand new management programme, and the coffees are tasting amazing!  Gatomboya comes from a local dialect word meaning ‘swamp’, referring to the damp area around the Kirigu river that runs by the washing station. This is the name given to this coffee factory, one of four owned by the Barichu Farmers Cooperative Society. The factory was initially built in 1987 under a different society, but became part of Barichu in 1996. There are currently just under 700 active members delivering cherry to the mill, which produces around 450 tonnes of green coffee every year. The factory is located just outside the town of Karatina, in the Nyeri region, close to the border with Kirinyaga. We often find these coffees taste their best at this time of the year, and this is the final Kenyan coffee we’ll be releasing this season. Expect an intensely fruity cup with flavours of blackcurrant, blood orange and green tea.