Climpson & Sons - Single Origin: Gakayuini Pb, Kenya

The Gukayu-ini factory is part of the Thirikwa Co?ee Farmers’ Cooperative Society. This co?ee factory (wet-mill) is situated in Kirinyaga on the southern slopes of the famous Mt Kenya. The farmers in Thirikwa planted their ?rst co?ee trees in 1953. The Gukayu-ini factory is the only one within the cooperative. Annual production is around 784,000 KG of cherry but the society’s aim is to increase this to closer to 2,000,000 kg over the next few years through better husbandry and fertilisation.

Situated on the equator on Africa's east coast, Kenya has been described as "the cradle of humanity". In the Great Rift Valley palaeontologists have discovered some of the earliest evidence of man's ancestors. Kenya’s topography is incredibly diverse. The country is a land of mountains, valleys, open plains, deserts, forests, lakes, savannahs and a golden sanded coastline. With its scenic beauty and abundant wildlife, Kenya is one of Africa's major safari destinations. Coffee was introduced to Kenya by the British with seeds from neighbouring Ethiopia and also from Reunion (Bourbon) island. The development of hybrids during the 1930s brought about the highly successful varietals, SL28 and SL34 – co?ees that are now world famous and highly admired for their wonderful complexity in the cup with unrivalled lemony acidity. The country’s best coffees are grown in the Central Highlands on the southern slopes of Mt. Kenya to the north and in the foothills of the Aberdare Mountains to the west. Here the co?ee is grown on farms with altitudes of up to 1,800 metres above sea level - and this, along with the fertile volcanic soils of the region, is the key to the almost unbelievable ?avours that can be found within the cup. The best co?ees in Kenya are produced by the cooperatives of which there are around 300 comprised of between half a million to 600,000 smallholder members. About 60% of Kenya’s coffee is produced on cooperatives with estates and plantations making up the balance. Typically a smallholding or ‘shamba’ is comprised of shade-grown co?ee, a house, the family cow and a good variety of vegetables and fruit for the use of the family.