Why Tanzanian Coffee Is The Best In The World
Why Tanzanian Coffee Is The Best In The World: It’s the first thing you think about in the morning—that sweet, caffeinated invitation soon to warm your body, that nutty aroma wafting from a mug of Tanzanian coffee to your nostril. Additionally, coffee helps you stay alert throughout the day by sharpening your senses. Yes, we are talking about coffee. Without coffee, many of us experience mental fog and a sense of being lost at sea. No momentum equals no coffee. According to estimates, more than two billion cups of coffee are consumed daily by people worldwide. The dark bean, a straightforward hot beverage created by roasting and crushing a seed and then soaking it in hot water, has become our species’ current addiction.
Tanzania’s best-kept secret? World-class Tanzanian coffee
Coffee is picky. It can only be grown at specific temperatures and altitudes in equatorial climates. Arabica coffee beans, which are more expensive, are also the most susceptible to changes in soil, water, and climate. As a result, coffee can be grown in ideal conditions and shipped all over the world as a cash crop.
With annual production of more than 40,000 metric tons and annual sales of roughly $60 million, coffee is currently Tanzania’s major export. More than 400,000 families are employed in Tanzania’s coffee business. Tanzania ranks among the top 20 global coffee producers and is the fourth-largest African producer of the beverage.
What makes Tanzanian coffee so good?
You will very certainly pass through coffee plantations once you enter Tanzania for your Wildlife safari, Kilimanjaro climb, or Zanzibar vacation. These gently rolling green fields are covered in broad-leaved vegetation that is visible for miles. But how did Tanzania grow to be such a coffee powerhouse? We need to look back in the history books for this.
In Ethiopia, a country just a few hundred kilometers north of Tanzania, people started drinking coffee for the first time around the year 1550.
The plant was utilized for prayer, extending awareness, and working longer hours. The plant swiftly migrated along trade routes around the world.
The Haya tribe first cultivated coffee in northwest Tanzania in the 16th century. They chewed, smoked, and boiled the bean but never drank the dark liquid.
Many tribespeople worked on coffee plantations in Tanzania after German and British colonization, including the Chagga people who live near Mount Kilimanjaro. Tanzania’s government continued to promote its economy after the nation got independence in 1961 because they recognized the potential of its export of coffee.
Due to difficulties and market volatility brought on by public management of the coffee industry, changes in the early 1990s privatized the sector. Nowadays, smallholder farms in Tanzania produce more than 90% of the country’s coffee.
What does Tanzanian coffee taste like?
Arabica, a higher-grade coffee that Tanzania is well known for, is renowned for its bright acidity and fruity, tart flavors. Tanzanian coffee will likely resemble Kenyan or Ethiopian coffee in flavor (as they all share a common origin). For lovers of coffee, the Tanzania peaberry is a well-known delicacy.
Can I visit a coffee plantation while visiting Tanzania?
Absolutely. One of our office is situated in Arusha, a town on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro that serves as the entry point to the nation’s best coffee farms. We can arrange a plantation visit and coffee tasting thanks to our long-standing contacts with coffee farmers.
Top places to caffeinate in Tanzania
Here are some of our favorite coffee hangouts in Tanzania:
Union Café – Moshi. Classic and a local favorite, this restaurant is. Plan to spend a few hours sipping on regional coffee and taking in the sights while bringing a book or journal.
Stone Town’s Zanzibar Coffee House. We advise spending at least a half day in Stone Town on any Zanzibar vacation. You’ll require a caffeine power-up after navigating its winding streets. Look nowhere else.
To wrap up! For the majority of visitors to Tanzania, viewing lions, hippos, and other safari highlights are top priorities. The diving and beachcombing from the Spice Islands may also be to blame. But let’s be honest: without that first cup of coffee, none of this would be possible. So why not improve the taste if you’re flying halfway around the world for these experiences?
Getting you there? Contact us right away to include a day excursion to learn about the ecology and economy of Tanzania’s most delicious export, whether you’re daydreaming about a safari or trekking experience there or you’re currently planning your itinerary with us.
