Description
Gatare is one the oldest washing stations in the country, operating since 2003. Gatare has a long reputation having been among the first stations to process top-quality coffee for export. With lush hills, covered in coffee trees, all around it, the station is located in Nyamasheke district of the Western province.
Gatare has participated in the Cup Of Excellence competition many times, and the lots from the station have consistently scored high in qualifications.
Rwanda is distinguished by ideal coffee-growing conditions: high altitude, regular rainfall, volcanic soils with good organic structure. The vast majority of Rwandan coffee is produced by smallholders: there are around half a million farmers with parcels of land often not much larger than just one hectare per family. Coffee is grown in most parts of the country, while the area surrounding Lake Kivu and the southern province are the most intense coffee-producing regions. Rwandan smallholders organise themselves into cooperatives and share the services of centralised wet-mills – or washing stations, as they are known locally.
The wet mill has a huge capacity, with a modern disc-pulper, washing channels, dry fermentation tanks, and soaking tanks, and processed over 1000 tons of cherries this season.
The parchment is dried on raised beds for 15-22 days before dry milling.
Cup Score 88.25
Taste Notes: Blackberry / Candied Lemon / Mango / Baking Spices / Caramel
