Tanzania has emerged as Africa’s top Robusta coffee producer after winning the prestigious 2025 Taste of Harvest award from the Africa Fine Coffees Association (AFCA).
The award was secured by coffee from Ngara District Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Society (AMCOS), represented by Ubumwe Company Ltd, outperforming competitors from Ethiopia, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, and Ivory Coast.
Speaking at the award ceremony in Moshi Municipality, Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) Director General Primus Kimaryo emphasized that the victory reaffirms Tanzania’s ability to produce world-class coffee.
“This is a major milestone for our farmers. Their dedication has proven that Tanzanian coffee can meet and exceed global standards,” Kimaryo said.
The competition, held during the Africa Fine Coffees Conference and Exhibition in Dar es Salaam last month, was judged by a panel of six experts from multiple countries.
“Tanzania’s coffee stood out for its uniqueness, even among entries from large-scale estates,” Kimaryo added. “We will continue to train farmers, enhance coffee processing standards, and encourage the use of Central Processing Units (CPUs) to maintain purity and avoid mixing beans from different sources.”
He stressed the importance of harvesting only fully ripe coffee and processing it with clean water to preserve quality.
Following the ceremony, TCB board chairperson Prof. Aurelia Kamuzora expressed her excitement over Tanzania’s achievement, highlighting the need to sustain quality-focused production.
“We need to learn from Ngara farmers and Ubumwe Company’s approach. Competing through quality, not just identity, is the key to building Tanzania’s global coffee brand,” she stated.
Elisha Taramka, General Manager of Ngara District AMCOS and Director of Ubumwe Company, reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining high standards.
“We provide ongoing training to farmers on best harvesting, processing, and storage practices. Strict quality control measures are in place, including penalties for harvesting unripe coffee,” Taramka said, revealing that last season, fines of 200,000/- were imposed with support from local authorities.
Frank Mlay, TCB’s quality and marketing officer, detailed the rigorous selection process, which began at the national level with 73 coffee samples from small- and large-scale producers.
“At the continental level, Tanzania submitted five coffee samples across three categories: Robusta, washed Arabica, and natural Arabica. The final judging panel included experts from Taiwan, China, Rwanda, and Egypt,” Mlay explained.
Tanzania’s latest recognition in the specialty coffee industry is expected to boost its position in global markets and encourage further investment in high-quality coffee production.