Zambia Natural Gold - Isanya Estate (2022 Crop)

Dried blueberry, peach, lavender, chocolate
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Bag Weight 60 KG BAG
Harvest Season 2020/21
Status Spot
Lot Number P608528-1
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About This Coffee

Please note that on the website this Purchase Reference is P608528-1, but due to an error in Zambia, the bags are labeled P608528-2. The quality is correctly marked as Natural Gold.

The Olam Coffee Estate Company in Zambia was started in 2012. It is both the largest coffee producer in Zambia and now the largest employer in the country. For the Natural-processed ‘Gold’ coffees, the best cherries are carefully selected with double handpicking (ensuring a consistency of over 98% of fully formed red ripe cherries) before being dried on raised beds. The cherries are spread across the beds in thin layers to ensure even drying, and regularly turned over a period of 3 to 4 weeks.

Country of Origin Zambia
Region Northern Province
Producer Type Single Estate
Farm Name Isanya Estate
Processing Natural/Dry Processed
Harvest Season 2020/21
Bag Weight 60 KG BAG
Bag Type Grain Pro / Ecotact
Plant Species Arabica
Variety Catimor, N39

History of Coffee in Zambia 

The history of Zambian coffee seems familiar: men in Holy Orders of one sort or another arrive and plant seeds. But in the case of Zambia, missionaries did not introduce coffee farming until the 1950s. By the time commercial coffee production began in Zambia, the British had considerable experience in starting and operating coffee plantations in India, Kenya, and elsewhere. Planting coffee was an attempt to decrease a dependence on copper exports. Not surprisingly, the emphasis was on yield and production efficiencies. Plantations were large and orderly, grown in full sun on flat land, and processed in large wet mills wherever possible. Nevertheless Zambia made almost no appearance whatsoever on the world coffee stage until coffee was officially exported for the first time in 1985.

Growing Coffee in Zambia 

The Northern province has the best conditions for arabica coffee cultivation in Zambia with its relative proximity to the equator and abundant altitude (Mafinga Hills being the highest point in the country at 2,300 masl).  Most coffee grows from 1300 - 2300 masl. Zambia produces both washed and naturally processed coffee and has introduced some honey processing.  A wide range of varieties including Catimor 129, Castillo, Java, and other trial varieties. Specialty grades are AAA, AA, AB and Peaberry. 

  • Region Northern Province
  • Farm Name Isanya Estate
  • Producer Type Single Estate
  • Processing Natural/Dry Processed
  • Bag Type Grain Pro / Ecotact
  • Plant Species Arabica
  • Variety Catimor, N39
  • On Sale No
  • Top Lot No
  • Status Spot
  • Coffee Grade ZMB CA WA HP
  • CTRM Contract Number P608528-1
  • Country of Origin Zambia
  • Warehouse The Annex