Tanzania Acaia Hills. Fully Washed. Pacamara

Origin: Tanzania

Region: Mount Oldeani, Arusha

Producer/Farm: Leon Christianakis / Acaia Hills

Altitude: 1800 masl

Varietal: Pacamara

Process: Fully Washed

Harvest: 2024/2025

Importer: Typica

Cupping Score: 85.25

FOB/Volume: £12.50 per Kg / 30 Kilos

Roasted for Espresso and Filter Coffee

We taste: Pear, White Grape & Honey

The Story:

The history of coffee in northern Tanzania dates back to the 19th century. Coffee trees were introduced to Northern Tanzania from Réunion Island, near Madagascar, and immigrants from Germany, the occupying power at the time, developed the industry.

Leon’s grandparents were immigrants who came to Tanzania from Greece around the early 1900s and made a living from coffee production. Leon is the third generation of the family. The family’s house is located on the outskirts of Arusha, near the Kilimanjaro International Airport. His grandfather and father mostly grew coffee in its surrounding plantations, but the land was not suitable for producing high-quality coffee due to its low altitude. Leon learned about the concept of specialty coffee in the 2000s and started looking for lands at high altitudes that could produce higher-quality coffee.

It was around this time that Leon met his current business partner, Mark Stell, at the 2005 EAFCA exhibition (currently known as AFCA). Mark is the founder of Portland Coffee Roasters in the US. Leon and Mark hit it off, and in 2007, they jointly purchased a coffee plantation on Mount Oldeani, which is now known as Acacia Hills. Leon was convinced that if Mark, who knew about roasting, and he, who knew about farming, could work together, they could create a synergy.

There were two reasons why they decided on Oldeani as their new farmland. The first was that the best Tanzanian coffee Mark had ever tasted was from Oldeani. The second reason was that Leon had heard a researcher say that the soil in Oldeani was ideal for growing coffee. The land around Acacia Hills and Tembo Estate borders the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is home to many wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, and many more.

Leon rebuilt the rundown farm and began planting high-quality coffee trees, including Kent, SL28, Geisha, and Pacamara. With his dedication and the wonderful natural environment, Acacia Hills grew in coffee quality and production.

Leon’s farm, Acacia Hills, was listed as the winner of a private auction in Tanzania organised by ACE (The Alliance for Coffee Excellence). Tanzania is still in its infancy as a specialty coffee-producing country. This is our first UK-exclusive lot of 2023. It’s a Pacamara varietal that has been Honey processed masterfully by Leon and his team.