Coffee in Tanzania

Sometimes, all you need is a sip of hope. That one thing that instantly makes everything feel calmer, normal. To a coffee lover, nothing compares. Happy? Drink coffee. Distraught and crumbling? A cup of coffee is a good remedy. Confused? Just a sip to iron out life’s wrinkles.

Tanzania has been a coffee producer for many years, the coffee culture has always been there in the small birikas and little white cups the elders used to drink as they chit chat. The culture is slowly shifting, with many young people getting into coffee. With the change, coffee shops are sprawling especially in cities.

The origins

The history of coffee in Tanzania is usually attributed to the Haya tribe residing in the North-West part of the country. The Haya were said to have brought the crop in the 16th century from Ethiopia and used it for a variety of things most prominently in cultural and ritual functions. Kagera region where Haya are, is well known for coffee production to date, specifically robusta.

What Tanzania is known for

It is said that there are over 120 species of coffee trees in the world. Tanzania, like most parts of the world is known for two main types; arabica and robusta. Arabica is the most produced coffee species in Tanzania, making around 70% of total coffee produced in the country while robusta is produced mainly in three regions; Kagera, Mwanza and Morogoro according to a 2024 United States Department of Agriculture report.

Something Unique

Tanzania also produces peaberry coffee; a naturally occurring coffee bean that develops in both arabica and robusta. Peaberry coffee is lauded for its high flavor concentration, instead of the normal two beans, peaberry is just one bean which experts say is what makes it such a unique, high quality coffee.

Where coffee is grown

As stated earlier, the Kagera region is predominantly a robusta region. Tanzania has many other places producing coffee, chief among them being Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions. Known for its high altitudes and acidic soil, coffee from Kilimanjaro is regarded as premium and one of the best in the world.

Other areas in Tanzania producing coffee include Kigoma, Mbeya, Mara, Iringa, and Ruvuma to mention a few.

Having produced close to 63,000 tonnes of coffee in 2023, Tanzania was ranked 19th in coffee production.Projections indicate that Tanzania is expected to achieve a 1.5% growth rate in coffee production by 2028.

If you are a coffee lover and a wanderer, you can visit coffee production hotspots in Tanzania as you also visit some of the most beautiful tourist attractions, historic places and landmarks. Whether you are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or traveling by train to Kigoma to visit Gombe National Park, a good time and enjoyment is guaranteed.

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