Zimbabwe Salimba Estate AA+
Zimbabwe, formerly known as Rhodesia, is located in the southern eastern highlands bordering Mozambique. Some of her closest coffee growing neighbors are Malawi and Zambia.
Zimbabwe's coffee is comparable to Kenya coffee in it's brightness. It is balanced, with winey and slightly citrus like aromatic fragrance. The two best known producers of coffee in this region are Smaldeel and La Lucie.
Zimbabwe is a relative newcomer to coffee production. Coffee was first grown by the early 1900's by European colonists but commercial production was not established until the '50's.
Zimbabwe has seen a lot of political turmoil too. These are the reasons why Zimbabwe coffee is not very high profile; it's youth and its struggle. On the other hand Zimbabwe has made great progress by watching her neighbors produce coffee and when its been possible has leapfrogged right into using practices like the irrigation techniques, careful hand picking, speedy processing, modern quality control, washing stations, etc.
One unique practice is to only produce coffee from younger trees. While coffee could grow to be a few decades old Zimbabwe's production habit is to rotate through the trees on an eight year cycle. Seven years of production and one year fallow for the sake of the land. During that year period crops like tobacco are grown and remain interspersed until the new coffee trees are about a year old.
Chipinge is located on the slopes of the Chimanimani mountains. Made of volcanic peaks and deep ravines, its a superb growing region for a lot more than coffee! Since the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe sees a LOT of rainfall, (approximately 45 inches falling yearly with 80% from November to March) the climate is also suitable for growing tea, and macadamia nuts as well as tobacco. Due to the abundance of rain and the wise use of irrigation, Chipinge is also able to grow crops like rice.
Unfortunately, a common story in coffee growing regions is one of colonization, disruption, and a rebalancing of power. If you're interested in world history look up "Farm Invasions." Follow the path of British colonization, through the independence of Zimbabwe, and her continued struggles.
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