Tanzania · Species
Tanzania Arabica
- 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 OfferGrowing 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.
- 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
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is northern or southern Tanzanian Arabica better?
What varieties are grown in Tanzania?
Are Tanzanian naturals available?
Keep reading
Related to Tanzania Arabica
- Tanzania Coffee GradesThe Tanzanian grade ladder for washed Arabica — AA, A, AB, B, C, PB, E, TT and UG — how each separation is produced, and how Kagera Robusta differs.
- Tanzania harvest and export calendarHarvest and export windows for six East African origins, with every regional cycle.
- Mbeya CoffeeCoffee from Mbeya and Songwe: Tanzania’s largest Arabica area, central pulperies, day-lot separations, harvest timing and the southern cup profile.
- Kilimanjaro CoffeeCoffee from the southern slopes of Kilimanjaro: altitude, cooperative structure, varieties, harvest timing and the cup profile of northern Tanzanian Arabica.
- Tanzania AA Green CoffeeTanzania AA green coffee: what the grade is, which regions produce it, what it costs in outturn, and how to write a Tanzania AA specification.
- Tanzania Green CoffeeTanzanian green coffee from the northern and southern highlands plus Kagera Robusta — grades, regions, harvest windows, cup profiles and how to specify a Tanzanian parcel.
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.