NTWARI

Tasting notes: Stone fruits, Cake spices, Oolong tea

The Ntwari wet mill is located in Muyinga region, home to some 280 farmers, 50 of them women, who tend their coffee trees with care. With most smallholders growing just 25 to 30 trees each, the work calls for real precision and it's women who most often carry it out.

One woman in particular set the tone for this community. Widowed several years ago, she carved out a place for herself in an industry long dominated by men, forged a connection with JNP Coffee, and grew a business of her own. Now she mentors young women coming up behind her, passing on what she once learned herself.

Change comes slowly to cultural norms in Burundi, where women still face real barriers around property rights and education. Yet through JNP Coffee, producers are paid directly for their work, giving them a real stake in their local economies. Most women reinvest the bulk of that income into their families and communities, a ripple effect that grows stronger over time.

No wonder why this coffee is called Ntwari, which is the kirundi word for "Hero".

FOB price: $6.60 USD/lb

Country: Burundi, Ngozi
Varietals: Bourbon
Process: Natural
Altitude: 1600-1800m