AvailableSpecialty
Tanzania · Kilimanjaro
- Species
- Arabica
- Process
- Fully washed
- Grade
- AB
- Screen
- 15/16
- Crop
- 2025/26
- Quantity
- 2 × 20ft
Citrus · Dark chocolate · Black tea
Tanzania · Species
Tanzania Arabica
Arabica dominates Tanzanian production by value and splits cleanly into two regional products. This page covers what distinguishes them and how to buy each.
- Species
- Arabica
- Preparation
- Fully washed · Natural
- Harvest
- June–October in the south; July–December in the north
Quick answer
Tanzanian Arabica is predominantly fully washed and comes from two belts that harvest months apart — the northern slopes of Kilimanjaro and Meru from July, and the larger southern highlands around Mbeya, Songwe and Mbinga from June. Grades follow the AA/A/AB/B/C/PB ladder.
Contract on: region · grade · screen · process · crop · moisture · defect tolerance · cup approval.
Request current tanzania arabicaThe two belts
| Northern highlands | Southern highlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Core areas | Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Meru | Mbeya, Songwe, Mbinga, Ruvuma |
| Altitude | 1,400–1,900 m | 1,400–2,000 m |
| Harvest | July–December | June–October |
| Farm structure | Smallholder plus estates | Predominantly smallholder via AMCOS |
| Acidity | Firmer, more defined | Softer, rounder |
| Common notes | Blackcurrant, citrus, cocoa | Stone fruit, brown sugar, chocolate |
| Share of volume | Smaller | Larger |
Because both belts produce the full grade ladder, the grade name carries no regional information. A Tanzanian specification that omits the region leaves the largest variable to the seller.
Varieties
Older plantings are dominated by Bourbon and Kent — the latter long established in Tanzania and selected for leaf rust tolerance. Newer plantings include selections released by the Tanzania Coffee Research Institute, bred for disease resistance and yield. A single AMCOS catchment typically contains all three generations, which is why Tanzanian variety information is usually described by area rather than by lot.
Processing
Fully washed is the default. Cherry is delivered to an AMCOS or a central pulpery, pulped, fermented, washed and dried in parchment on raised beds or patios. Central pulpery capacity has expanded substantially in the south, and stations there increasingly separate by delivery day — which is what makes tighter specialty separations available from Mbeya and Mbinga.
Naturals are a growing category in the south, and honey lots are produced in small volumes. Both should be treated as specific separations to confirm rather than as standing categories.
Specifying a Tanzanian Arabica parcel
- Region
- North or south, and the specific area — this matters more than the grade
- Traceability
- AMCOS or central pulpery; delivery period for tighter separations
- Grade
- AA, AB, B, C or PB — see Tanzania coffee grades
- Screen
- With a permitted percentage passing
- Defects
- Maximum full defects per 300 g
- Moisture
- Range plus method
- Crop year
- Explicit — Tanzania’s crop year is commonly quoted July–June
- Packaging
- 60 kg jute, hermetic liner on specialty separations
Tanzanian Arabica enquiries
Tell us the belt, grade and volume. We will confirm what the current crop supports, with the AMCOS or pulpery identified.
Request Current Crop OfferLast reviewed 2 min read
Growing regions
Tanzania growing regions
Altitude and harvest timing are the two variables a sourcing decision turns on. Where two regions overlap they compete for the same milling and shipping slot; where they do not, a programme can be scheduled across them.
Region · altitude
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
- Mbeya & Songwe1,400–2,000 m
- Kilimanjaro1,400–1,900 m
- Arusha & Mount Meru1,300–1,800 m
- Mbinga & Ruvuma1,200–1,800 m
- Kigoma1,300–1,800 m
- Kagera1,000–1,500 m
- Kilimanjaro
- Altitude
- 1,400–1,900 m
- Harvest
- July–December
- Processing
- Fully washed
- Species
- Arabica
- Arusha & Mount Meru
- Altitude
- 1,300–1,800 m
- Harvest
- July–November
- Processing
- Fully washed · Natural (limited)
- Species
- Arabica
- Mbeya & Songwe
- Altitude
- 1,400–2,000 m
- Harvest
- June–October
- Processing
- Fully washed · Natural · Honey (limited)
- Species
- Arabica
- Mbinga & Ruvuma
- Altitude
- 1,200–1,800 m
- Harvest
- June–October
- Processing
- Fully washed · Natural
- Species
- Arabica
- Kagera
- Altitude
- 1,000–1,500 m
- Harvest
- May–August
- Processing
- Natural (dry-processed) · Washed (small volumes)
- Species
- Robusta · Arabica
- Kigoma
- Altitude
- 1,300–1,800 m
- Harvest
- June–October
- Processing
- Fully washed
- Species
- Arabica
Availability
Current Tanzania Arabica
Availability moves with the harvest, with milling and with prior commitments. Everything here is confirmed against the current crop on enquiry.
AvailableSpecialty
Tanzania · Mbeya & Songwe
- Species
- Arabica
- Process
- Fully washed
- Grade
- AA
- Screen
- 18+
- Crop
- 2025/26
- Quantity
- 1 × 20ft
Blackcurrant · Cocoa nib · Brown sugar
LimitedSpecialty
Tanzania · Mbinga & Ruvuma
- Species
- Arabica
- Process
- Fully washed
- Grade
- PB
- Screen
- PB 13/14
- Crop
- 2025/26
- Quantity
- 120 bags
Red apple · Molasses · Almond
Quality
Quality evaluation
Every parcel runs the same sequence before it is offered and again before it is loaded. What is reported for a given lot depends on what the buyer specifies.
- 01Physical gradePreparation class against the origin’s own system
- 02Screen distributionRetention plus the percentage passing
- 03Defect analysisFull defects per 300 g on a stated weighting table
- 04MoistureRange plus the measurement method and instrument
- 05Water activityWhere the buyer specifies it, for storage stability
- 06DensityBulk density in g/L, for roast planning
- 07Sample roastTo a cupping profile, not a commercial roast
- 08CuppingMultiple cups, against the approved sample
- 09Buyer approvalThe retained sample the shipment is measured against
Crop
Tanzania crop calendar
Flowering, harvest, processing, milling and the export window. Regional cycles differ, so this is not one universal season.
Southern highlands — Mbeya, Songwe, Mbinga (Arabica)
Crop year commonly quoted July–June
Stage
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Flowering
Cherry development
HarvestPeak July–September
Processing & drying
Dry milling & grading
Main export window
- Flowering: Sep–Nov
- Cherry development: Nov–May
- Harvest: Jun–Oct. Peak July–September
- Processing & drying: Jun–Nov
- Dry milling & grading: Aug–Jan
- Main export window: Aug–May
The southern belt harvests earlier than the north and supplies the larger share of Tanzanian Arabica volume.
Northern highlands — Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Meru (Arabica)
Crop year commonly quoted July–June
Stage
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Flowering
Cherry development
HarvestPeak August–October
Processing & drying
Dry milling & grading
Main export window
- Flowering: Oct–Dec
- Cherry development: Dec–Jun
- Harvest: Jul–Dec. Peak August–October
- Processing & drying: Jul–Jan
- Dry milling & grading: Sep–Mar
- Main export window: Sep–Jun
Higher altitudes on Kilimanjaro and Meru pick latest, extending the window into December.
Kagera (Robusta)
Crop year commonly quoted July–June
Stage
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Flowering
Cherry development
Harvest
Processing & drying
Dry milling & grading
Main export window
- Flowering: Sep–Nov and Mar–Apr
- Cherry development: Nov–Apr
- Harvest: May–Aug
- Processing & drying: May–Sep
- Dry milling & grading: Jul–Nov
- Main export window: Jul–Feb
Kagera Robusta is predominantly dry-processed, so the drying phase dominates the processing window.
Export
Packing and export
- Ports of loading
- Dar es Salaam, Tanga
- Bag standard
- 60 kg jute; GrainPro or equivalent liners on request
- Export window
- August through to the following June, peaking October–March
- Incoterms
- FOB · CFR · CIF
Compare
Against the other East African origins
Grade designations do not translate between origins, and harvest windows barely overlap. This is how the region compares at a glance.
| Origin | Species | Main preparation | Representative grades | Harvest | Ports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uganda | Robusta · Arabica | Natural (Robusta) · Washed Arabica (WUGAR) | Screen 18 · Screen 17 · Screen 15 · FAQ | Robusta main crop November–February with a fly crop April–July; Elgon Arabica October–February | Mombasa (Northern Corridor) · Dar es Salaam (Central Corridor) |
| Kenya | Arabica | Fully washed with soak · Mbuni (natural) | E · AA · AB · PB | Main crop October–December; early (fly) crop May–July | Mombasa |
| Ethiopia | Arabica | Fully washed · Natural (sun-dried) | Grade 1 · Grade 2 · Grade 3 · Grade 4 | October–January, varying by region and altitude | Djibouti (primary transit port) |
| Rwanda | Arabica | Fully washed · Natural (growing) | Grade 1 (fully washed) · Grade 2 · Screen 15+ · Screen 16+ | March–July, with the peak in April and May | Mombasa (Northern Corridor) · Dar es Salaam (Central Corridor) |
| Burundi | Arabica | Fully washed with soak · Natural (limited) | Grade A · Grade B · Screen 15+ · Screen 16+ | March–July | Dar es Salaam (Central Corridor) · Mombasa (Northern Corridor) |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is northern or southern Tanzanian Arabica better?
Neither — they are different products. Northern lots are firmer and more structured; southern lots sweeter and rounder. The south carries more volume and generally more accessible pricing; the north carries the historical reputation. Choose by the role the coffee plays.
What varieties are grown in Tanzania?
Bourbon and Kent dominate older plantings, with selections released by the Tanzania Coffee Research Institute in newer ones. Catchments commonly mix all three, so variety is usually described by area rather than by lot.
Are Tanzanian naturals available?
In growing volumes from the southern belt, and in small quantities elsewhere. They are specific separations rather than a standing category, so availability should be confirmed against the current crop.
Request an offer
Tell us the Tanzania coffee you need
Region, process, grade, screen, moisture, defect tolerance, crop year, packaging and destination. Send what you know and we will confirm what Tanzania realistically supports for the current crop.