RUBIRIZI HILL FW [AUCTION LOT] - RED BOURBON, TRADITIONAL WASHED - BURUNDI

SCENERY
LONDON, ENGLAND

RUBIRIZI HILL FW [AUCTION LOT] - RED BOURBON, TRADITIONAL WASHED

BLACKCURRANT
PLUM
BLACK TEA

PRODUCER: 10 SMALLHOLDER FARMERS ON RUBIRIZI HILL
ORIGIN: BURUNDI
REGION: BUTANYERERA PROVINCE, MUHANGA COMMUNE, BISHA ZONE
STATION: BUKEYE WASHING STATION
VARIETAL: RED BOURBON
PROCESS: TRADITIONAL WASHED
IMPORT PARTNER: DIRECT WITH LONG MILES

ROAST DATE: JULY 6, 2026

FROM THE ROASTER

OUR FINAL LOTS FROM THE 25/26 BURUNDIAN SEASON ARE A WASHED/NATURAL PAIR FROM RUBIRIZI HILL, SECURED FROM THE LMCP PRIVATE AUCTION. RUBIRIZI SITS IN THE CATCHMENT ZONE FOR BUKEYE, THE ORIGINAL LONG MILES STATION, AND THESE TOP LOTS STOOD OUT ACROSS MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF SAMPLE CUPPINGS. WE REALLY ENJOYED THE DARKER FRUIT NOTES AND CONCENTRATED CHARACTER OF THE WASHED - ON EVERY TABLE THIS LOT WAS A STANDOUT.

WE'RE TASTING AROMATICS OF BLACK TEA, LEMON AND HONEY ALONGSIDE STEWED FRUITS. IN THE CUP WE FIND DARK SUMMER BERRIES - BLACKCURRANTS AND WILD BRAMBLES - ALONGSIDE PLUM, WITH CHAMOMILE AROMATICS. AS IT COOLS IT BECOMES A LITTLE MORE STEWED ASSAM, WITH MILK CHOCOLATE BUTTER BISCUIT.

PROCESS

TRADITIONAL WASHED: CHERRIES HAND-SORTED ON THE HILL TO REMOVE DEFECTS BEFORE DELIVERY TO BUKEYE WASHING STATION, WHERE A SECOND SELECTION ENSURED ONLY PERFECTLY RIPE CHERRY ENTERED PROCESSING. FLOATED AND SKIMMED ON ARRIVAL. CHERRIES PULPED AND WASHED, THEN PLACED ON PRE-DRYING TABLES FOR TWO DAYS WITH CONTINUED HAND-SORTING, THEN DRIED ON RAISED BEDS FOR APPROXIMATELY 14-18 DAYS.

HARVEST

CROP 25/26 - ARRIVED UK: JUNE 8TH 2026. NEW PURCHASING RELATIONSHIP.