Ichuga AA, Kenya

Tasting Notes: Black Tea, Raspberry, Lemon

Region: Nyeri, Central Kenya

Variety: Ruiru 11, SL28, SL34

Process: Fully Washed

Ichuga is one of 5 factories owned and operated by Kiama Farmer Cooperative Society (FCS) in Nyeri, Kenya. It sits at 1,700 meters above sea level near Karatina. Charles Ngure, the elected chairperson of Kiama FCS says “coffee is life” to convey the importance of coffee to the communities Kiama FCS serves. Kiama FCS focuses on improving coffee quality to support sustainable farmer livelihoods. Most members inherited small farms (typically under 1 hectare) and grow mainly SL28 and SL34 varieties, known for drought resistance and deep roots. Newer varieties like Ruiru and Batian offer disease resistance and early yields.
 Nyeri is one of Kenya’s top coffee-growing regions. The name Nyeri is derived from the Masaai word nyiro, meaning red, after the red volcanic soil in the area. Kenyan coffees are graded by bean size, with AA being the largest.