Coffee & Tea Tasting Tours in Rwanda’s Plantations

Rwanda is gaining international recognition for its high-quality coffee and tea, driven by its ideal climate, fertile volcanic soils, and a strong commitment to quality. Visiting a coffee or tea plantation for a tasting tour is a fascinating and aromatic experience that offers insight into Rwanda’s agricultural backbone and burgeoning export industry.

I. Coffee Tasting Tours

Rwanda’s coffee is predominantly Arabica, known for its bright acidity, floral notes, and often a hint of citrus or red fruit. The country has been dubbed the “land of a thousand hills and a thousand flavors” due to its diverse microclimates influencing coffee profiles.

Where to Go:
- Around Lake Kivu (Western Province): This region is the heart of Rwanda’s coffee production.
  - Kivu Belt Coffee: Various cooperatives operate here.
  - Maraba Coffee (Southern Province): One of Rwanda’s most famous coffee brands, with farms and washing stations near Huye (Butare). This area also offers tours.
  - COOPAC Coffee (Gisenyi/Rubavu): A cooperative near Lake Kivu that offers tours of their washing stations and plantations.
- Gorilla’s Nest Coffee Plantation (Volcanoes National Park area): Some lodges might offer internal coffee experiences or partner with nearby small-scale plantations.
What to Expect on a Coffee Tour:
- Farm Visit: Walk through the coffee plantations, learning about coffee plants, growing cycles, and sustainable farming practices.
- Harvesting (Seasonal): If visiting during the harvest season (typically March to July, with peak in May-June), you might see or even participate in picking coffee cherries.
- Processing: Visit a coffee washing station (where the cherries are processed, fermented, washed, and dried). This is a crucial stage that greatly impacts the coffee’s flavor.
- Roasting: Learn about the roasting process, from green beans to aromatic roasted coffee.
- Cupping/Tasting: The highlight! Participate in a professional coffee tasting (cupping) session to discern the unique flavors and aromas of different Rwandan coffees.
Best Time: While tours are available year-round, the harvest season (March-July) is ideal for seeing the full processing cycle.

II. Tea Tasting Tours

Rwanda’s tea, primarily black tea, is known for its strong, brisk flavor and bright color, often grown at high altitudes.

Where to Go:
- Nyungwe Forest National Park Area: The hills surrounding Nyungwe are covered in expansive, emerald-green tea plantations.
  - Gisovu Tea Estate: One of the largest and most picturesque tea estates, located near Nyungwe. Offers guided tours.
  - Gisunyu Tea Factory / Pfunda Tea Factory: Other notable estates that offer tours.
- Mukura Forest Reserve Area: Smaller plantations exist here too.
What to Expect on a Tea Tour:
- Plantation Walk: Stroll through the stunning tea bushes, learning about tea cultivation, pruning, and the importance of altitude and climate.
- Tea Picking: Observe (and sometimes participate in) the nimble fingers of tea pickers harvesting the “two leaves and a bud.”
- Factory Visit: Witness the fascinating process of tea production:
  - Withering: Drying the leaves to reduce moisture.
  - Rolling: Breaking the leaf cells to release enzymes.
  - Fermentation/Oxidation: Developing the flavor and color.
  - Drying: Stopping the fermentation process.
  - Sorting & Grading: Preparing the tea for packaging.
- Tea Tasting: Sample different grades and types of Rwandan black tea, appreciating their distinct characteristics.
Best Time: Tea is harvested year-round, so tours are always available.

Combining Tours:

Many visitors combine a coffee or tea tour with their safari, especially if they are visiting Lake Kivu (for coffee) or Nyungwe Forest (for tea). These tours offer a deeper appreciation for Rwanda’s natural resources and the livelihoods of its people, all while enjoying delicious beverages.