BACK IN STOCK!
I roasted a few pounds of this really delicious coffee from Cameroon for a friend that was having a birthday this weekend. She Always buys the Sidama Ardi and loves it but I wanted to give her a little something xtra to make the weekend special! I am so grateful for my small amount of loyal customers. They keep me doing this fun job! You would think selling FRESH roasted coffee would be so easy to do. Not such an easy task! This is a big shout to my loyal green and roasted coffee customers! THANK YOU and Happy Roasting! I only have less than 10 pounds left!
Cameroon Fully Washed – Oku Valley
This fully washed coffee is from the Oku Valley, Cameroon. Standing over the valley is Mount Kilum (aka Mount Oku), which at 3,011 masl is the second highest peak in West Africa. Oku is a subdivision of the Bui division in the north west region of Cameroon. The coffee is grown between 1800 and 2200 masl and is shade grown under orange and banana trees. The coffee is harvested and washed the same day, using fresh spring water. It is then dried on raised beds.
The main variety grown in the Oku Valley was reportedly brought from Jamaica over 70 years ago. It is now grown alongside a more vibrant variety called Java brought from the province of Java in Indonesia and promoted by the Cameroon research institute IRAD. The exotic Kilum forest is found nearby where the world renowned white honey is harvested and coffee pollination is done principally by bees from this forest. An inactive volcanic lake sits at the top of the mountain and from there several springs of water flow down to the villagers. The soils are mainly volcanic tending to be slightly acidic.
With an annual production of about 400 tons of washed Arabica, Oku stands out as one of the most coffee dependent villages in the North West Region. Production is mainly small holder with farms ranging from 1/4ha to 3ha. The coffee is grown on the slopes of the mount Oku at altitudes ranging from 1700masl to about 2200masl. Being mainly small holder, farming practices are rudimentary. However during the last 6 years, OLAM CAM S.A. introduced a coffee project to promote good agricultural practices.
The OLAM project covers 3 divisions of the North West Region. It was set up as a response to the dwindling volumes and poor quality of Arabica coffee produced in the region. It has as goal the improvement of livelihoods by increasing coffee yields, ensuring better quality and enhancing market access. The project uses the Farmer Field school model. It has 3500 registered farmers grouped in 94 Farmer Field school groups. Oku is one of the principal villages participating in the project with about 450 members grouped in 12 Farmer Field School groups. CUP NOTES:Yellow plum, cocoa, caramel, nice sweetness.