Natural Rwanda, Sholi

About our Natural Rwanda, Sholi Blend

This coffee is roasted with a Fair Trade and Organic bean from Abateraninkunga ba Sholi (“Sholi”) Cooperative, meaning “Mutual Assistance,”. It is located in Muhanga district, Southern Province, in the center of Rwanda, about halfway between Kigali and Lake Kivu. Established in 2008, Sholi has been producing coffee for nearly a decade, and the Cooperative’s name speaks to its members working together to improve both their coffee and the greater community. Sholi was borne out of a women’s association called “Kundwa”, which means “love” in Kinyarwanda. Today, nearly half of Sholi’s members are women, including two of the five board members. In addition to coffee trees at the farm level (which average ~410 per female member), the women’s association has two communal plots for harvesting and producing coffee. The first site has 2,356 trees, and the second 3,960 trees (as of Feb 2021).

In 2016, Sholi received a grant to build both a community center and a regional health center to serve members and residents. With the nearest larger health facility being over 18 km away on poor roads, the blood tests and treatment they can provide for malaria, parasites, respiratory infection, and basic first aid. Betty, the head nurse, along with the other four staff members, are hoping to run a nutrition and cooking program to combat early childhood (< 5 years old) malnutrition, as working out some public-health partnerships with other clinics in the region.

The Cooperative received its Fairtrade certification in 2015 and Rainforest Alliance certification in 2016, and Organic certification in 2020. Using Fairtrade funds, members have started an apiary project as well as distributed cows to members.

Roast: Medium

Region: Muhanga District, Southern Province

Altitude: 1,800-2,000 masl

Process: Natural

Notes: This coffee is roasted with a Fair Trade and Organic bean with notes of raisin, lime, brown sugar and chocolate sweetness. It has a syrupy body and lime-like acidity.

ROASTED IN PORT ANGELES, WA