Kenya, Kianamui AB, Washed

by Mok

Kianamui Station is located in Kirinyaga, in the heart of the Central Highlands on Mount Kenya. The altitude (1600+), volcanic soil and annual rainfall make it the perfect area for coffee cultivation, amongst others. Agroforestry - mostly shade trees and variety in plantation - is deeply embedded in the coffee growing culture in this region and Kianamui Station plays a leading role in keeping it so. The station is located at 1620 masl and collects coffee from over 1800 smallholder farmers who also cultivate nuts and fruits and whose plantations are full of life. Cherries are picked when ripe and brought to the station within hours, where they’re sorted, depulped and fermented for 24 hours. The coffee is then thoroughly washed and soaked and all wastewater is collected in soak pits where it naturally filters back into the soil. Finally the beans are dried on raised beds until the desired humidity is reached and stored in ventilated bins.