LYENGA AB

Lyenga AB comes from the highlands of Tanzania’s Songwe region, close to the borders with Zambia and Malawi. This fertile agricultural landscape is home to Mbozi, one of southern Tanzania’s most important coffee-growing districts.

Lyenga was originally part of the neighbouring village of Itumpi. The distance from essential government services made life difficult for the community, so in 1974 Iyenga was established as a village in its own right. A school and healthcare facilities followed, giving local families better access to education and medical care.

Coffee plays an important role in village life. In 2003, local producers established the Iyenga Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Society. Today, the cooperative brings together 292 members - 258 men and 34 women who work collectively to process their coffee, share knowledge and reach wider markets.

The farms lie across the highlands surrounding the village, where the elevation and cooler temperatures allow coffee cherries to mature gradually. Producers grow a mixture of Kent, Bourbon and N39: varieties with a long history in Tanzania and a natural affinity with the country’s southern growing regions.

Every harvest begins with ripe cherries being selectively picked by hand. Farmers deliver their crop to the cooperative’s central processing unit, where the cherries can be processed on the same day. This helps preserve their freshness and creates greater consistency across the finished lot.

Investment in a modern ecological pulping machine has transformed this stage of production. The equipment can handle substantially more coffee than the cooperative’s previous pulper while using up to 50% less water - an important consideration in a region where water can be scarce. It has also reduced the time and physical work previously required to pulp coffee by hand at home.

Once the outer fruit and mucilage have been removed, the coffee is thoroughly washed and spread across raised tables to dry in the sun. The beans are regularly turned to encourage slow, even drying and are protected from the most intense heat of the day. This careful processing contributes to the clarity, sweetness and clean fruit character found in the cup.

Alongside improvements in processing, the cooperative has invested in agricultural training, quality control and better farm management. Programmes encouraging the participation of women and young people have also created new opportunities within the community, including a youth team trained to provide pruning and crop-care services to local farmers.

Lyenga’s commitment to quality has earned recognition across Tanzania. The cooperative placed first in the country’s 2018/19 Taste of Harvest competition and was later recognised in the Mild Arabica category of the Tanzania Fine Coffee Competition.

This fully washed AB lot is a beautifully balanced expression of the work taking place in Iyenga. Blackberry brings a ripe, juicy fruit character, followed by soft caramel sweetness and the rich, comforting finish of chocolate brownie.