Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked state in southern Central Africa consisting of high plateau flanked by the Zambezi river valley, Lake Kariba in the north, and the Limpopo in the south.
High altitude means the climate is particularly temperate. The majority of the population live in central Zimbabwe. Tobacco, cotton, sugar, tea, coffee, and beef are produced for export along with a variety of minerals including gold, nickel, asbestos and copper. Manufacturing also provides a wide range of goods. Tourism is a major foreign exchange earner.
Recent political woes have seen Zimbabwe move from a net exporter of food to the region, to a net importer. The seizing of white-owned farms has led to a sharp reduction in cash export crops, though some coffee farms are still operational, as coffee is the most land and labour intensive export crop grown.
Type of coffee – Arabica
Main Regions – Eastern Highlands (near the border with Mozambique)
Marketing System – Direct Sale, Periodic Auctions
Process – Fully Washed
Harvest Season – July – October (shipments October – March)
Port of Shipment – Durban, Beira
Cupping Characteristics – Light to medium body, medium acidity, citrus flavour
