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July 2008: LIBORIUS GEHRKEN (AFRICA) LIMITED

Blackburn Estate, Tanzania - The Best Coffee among Those Known in Kilimanjaro

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In the northern part of Tanzania, where the highest summit in Africa exists, there is an estate producing coffee of the highest quality and reputation. Grown with wild animals passing through the estate, the coffee boasts a unique mouth-feel and acidity.

Tanzania has three main coffee growing regions: north, west and south. The northern region is internationally acclaimed for its quality Arabica coffee and this is where the Blackburn Estate is located.

About 200km west of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the farm is situated on the eastern slope of the 3,188 metre high Mt. Oldeani, at an altitude between 1540 and 2010 metres. Bordering the famous Ngorongoro National Park, the estate is surrounded by a wealth of wildlife. Elephants and buffaloes pass though the farming land and often level some coffee trees down to the ground. However, Blackburn Estate has chosen to coexist with them and protect the environment without compromising the extremely high quality of their coffee.

It is often the case in northern Tanzania that coffee estate owners live abroad, leaving the management of the farm in someone’s hands. However, the Blackburn Estate owner, Mr. Michael Gehrken and his family not only love nature and the farm but also live at the estate and are dedicated to coffee growing and processing.

Blackburn Estate’s coffee trees, whose varieties include Bourbon and Kent are planted at an altitude of 1,760 and 1,950 meters. Such a high elevation in the tropics means a large day - night temperature difference, resulting in coffee beans with high density and acidity as well as rich sugar content. They can be roasted to different degrees, including dark roast. The beverage offers a thick, full-bodied texture while exhibiting sweet acidity of citrus like grapefruit or orange. Such characteristics make the coffee truly outstanding.

In fact, Blackburn has recently received a number of awards and recognitions from industry experts. The Tanzania Coffee Association (TCA) recognized Blackburn Estate as one of the “Highest Quality Coffees ofNorthern Estates” in 2004 and 2005 and discerning, professional coffeecuppers who came from all over the world gave a Blackburn Estate coffee lot the highest score at the “Taste of Harvest Competition” held by the Eastern African Fine Coffees Association (EAFCA) in 2005.

Blackburn Estate, a world renowned Tanzanian coffee estate with its exceptional coffee is not a product of coincidence. Its success is built on the natural conditions optimal for coffee production as well as human efforts led by its owner, Mr. Michael Gehrken.

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