Karinga PB | Kenia

Country of Origin: Kenya – Kiambu County
Farm: Karinga Factory
Cultivar: SL-28, SL-34, Ruiru 11, Batian
Processing: Washed
Altitude: 1,840 masl
Tasting Notes: Blackcurrant, jasmine, gooseberry
Roast: Light

Typical Kenya – but anything but ordinary. Juicy blackcurrant like from a syrup glass, beautifully full and syrupy on the palate. Complemented by delicate floral notes like jasmine tea and white tea – subtle but present. The finish? Long, fruity, and reminiscent of red wine with a hint of mango. Complex, fruity, floral – a real knockout.

The Karinga Coffee Factory was founded in 1983 and is located in Kenya’s Central Province, in the Thika District, specifically in the Ndarugu area of the Gatundu Division near the town of Gatundu. The station sits at about 1,840 meters above sea level and spans five acres. It serves farmers from the surrounding villages of Kimaruri, Kariungu, Gachuha, and Mugalwa.

The Karinga Factory is part of the Gitwe Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd and has a total of 650 members, of whom about 500 actively supply coffee. Interestingly, the station is located in a region more commonly known for tea cultivation.

Members of the cooperative apply various agronomic practices, including weeding, pruning, spraying, mulching, and fertilization — always following the recommendations of the local Coffee Research Station. A field committee monitors compliance with these practices. While intercropping with maize or beans is not allowed, planting macadamia trees is explicitly recommended.

During harvest season, up to six seasonal workers are employed, while in the off-season usually one person remains on site. The staff handle tasks such as weighing, sorting, and paying for the coffee, as well as addressing the farmers’ concerns.