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This coffee comes to us from the Nyabikenke Washing Station in the Kiremba Commune of Ngozi, Burundi. Founded in 1992, Nyabikenke was created by Sogestal Ngozi. “Sogestals” were management boards, comprised of private owners and government representatives that looked after the operations of washing stations. In 2020, most of the Sogestal washing stations, including Nyabikenke, were taken under control of the government, ODECA.

Located at 1867masl, Nyabikenke sits on a hill that shares the same name. Nyabikenke Hill was named by the elders who, after analyzing the behavior of the locals, noted the extraordinary solidarity between the citizens. The elders said this solidarity was enforced by their regular gatherings with their traditional sorghum beer. “Nyabikenke” is derived from the word “Umukenke,” which is a plant Burundians use as a straw to drink the sorghum beer.

All producers that bring their cherries to be processed at the Nyabikenke Washing Station live on 1 of 8 hills surrounding the station. Throughout the year, around 629 small holder farms deliver their cherries to Nyabikenke. These producers are trained to only pick ripe cherries. After being picked on farms that are typically less than 1 hectare, the cherries are brought to the washing station and are floated upon arrival. This washed lot is fermented in water for 24 hours and then dried for 11 days on raised beds before being exported by TGEP Inc.