Built in January 2017, Shyira is the highest elevation station in Rwanda, working with 1,869 smallholder farmers across the surrounding hills with coffee trees growing up to heights of 2,400 metres.
Following on from early success in Nyamasheke, the Muraho Trading Company have gone on to explore other geographic areas in Rwanda, with the intention behind Shyira to offer another unique expression of Rwanda’s landscape. Reached via a winding drive from Musanze, the station sits among dramatic views of Rwanda’s volcanic range, with mist-covered hills, white sand valleys, and the Gicice river running below. This environment plays a defining role in the development of the cherry, ensuring slow ripening which contributes to a dense, sugary coffee. The altitude, cooler climate, and volcanic soils create ideal conditions for high quality coffee, and related to this a product that we're just beginning to purchase this year: high quality cascara!
This cascara is produced from carefully selected coffee cherries grown by smallholders living in the district, up to elevations of 2,400 metres. Cherries are hand harvested, sorted and floated upo reception at the washing station. Processing is managed by Evarista Hagumimana, who is based at the washing station full time. Rather than the entirety of the spent coffee skins being broken down into natural fertiliser, some cherry selections are earmarked to further process, and are handled with as much care and attention as the seeds. The cherry skins are dried with considered airflow and manual turning, which ensures a more uniform and stable cascara.
The result is a clean, fruit driven cascara with layered sweetness. Expect notes of tart cranberry and hibiscus, with a sugar mouthfeel like dried apple tea.
