Tanzania Green Coffee Beans

Tanzania Green Coffee Beans

Tanzania produces mostly washed Arabica, grown across high-altitude regions such as Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Mbeya and Mbinga. It’s one of the few origins closely associated with peaberry lots - where single, rounded seeds are separated during milling and sold as a distinct grade. While peaberries themselves are not inherently higher quality, careful sourcing can reveal coffees with lively acidity, structured sweetness and clear fruit character. When processed and stored well, Tanzanian coffees can be bright and expressive, with some overlap in style with neighbouring Kenya.

Your guide to Tanzania Green Coffee Beans

  • What does Tanzanian coffee taste like?

    Tanzanian coffee is celebrated for its vibrant, unique flavour profile. When wet-processed, it offers bright, Kenyan-like notes with distinctive fruit flavours and a delightful cooked sugar sweetness. Unlike its neighbouring coffees from Ethiopia and Kenya, Tanzanian coffee tends to have a gentler, wine-like acidity that sets it apart.
    Flavour profiles can vary across different regions and varietals. Arabica varietals such as Bourbon, Kent, Typica, N39, Blue Mountain, and Nyassa thrive in Tanzania, each contributing its own distinct characteristics to the cup. These nuances make Tanzanian coffee a favourite among specialty coffee enthusiasts worldwide.

  • Where is coffee grown in Tanzania?

    Tanzania’s coffee-growing regions benefit from diverse climates and terrains, resulting in unique and varied flavour profiles.

    In the Northern Highlands, coffee is cultivated on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. This region boasts high elevations, cooler climates, abundant rainfall, and nutrient-rich volcanic soils. These conditions slow the development of coffee cherries, leading to sweet, flavorful beans. Coffee from this region is known for its pleasant aroma, rich acidity, and balanced, sweet taste, thanks to the mineral-rich volcanic soil.

    The West Lakes region produces most of Tanzania's robusta coffee, grown between 1,200 and 1,400 meters above sea level in fertile loam soils.

    The Southern Highlands, near Lake Malawi, are known for coffee grown at altitudes ranging from 1,200 to 1,800 meters. The non-volcanic loam soils here produce beans with fruity and floral characteristics and a medium body.

  • What is Tanzanian Peaberry coffee?

    Tanzanian peaberry coffee is a prized varietal within the specialty coffee sector, grown primarily in the Mbeya region of Southwestern Tanzania. Peaberries are a natural mutation where only a single, nutrient-rich bean forms inside the coffee cherry instead of the usual two.
    This rarity results in beans with concentrated flavour, offering a bright yet mellow acidity and a harmonious mix of fruity and chocolaty notes. Tanzanian peaberry coffee is sought after for its unique taste and limited availability, making it a standout choice for coffee connoisseurs.

  • How did coffee production develop in Tanzania?

    Coffee has been part of Tanzanian life for centuries, first used by the Haya people as a trade good and stimulant. Commercial cultivation expanded during German colonial rule in the late 1800s, before being developed further under British control. The formation of cooperatives, including the Kilimanjaro Native Coffee Union, shaped smallholder participation and helped establish export systems that still influence the sector today.

  • What are the main varieties?

    Many farms grow Bourbon-derived varieties that arrived through early missionary distribution, including French Mission Bourbon and related local selections. Research institutes have also introduced newer disease-resistant hybrids such as N39 and KP432. Some older Typica and Kent strains can be found in isolated areas. Varietal mix, climate stress and plant health all influence both flavour potential and lot stability.

Your questions, answered

Can you facilitate custom sourcing for specific Tanzanian regions or varietals?

Absolutely! If you’re seeking a specific varietal like Peaberry, Blue Mountain, or Bourbon, or coffee from a particular Tanzanian region, we can assist. Leveraging our extensive network of partners across Tanzania, we scan support custom sourcing to meet your unique needs. Simply reach out to us at hello@greencoffeecollective.com, and we’ll help you find the perfect coffee.

What is the Green Coffee Collective?

We’re a community of coffee producers and sourcing experts, all working together to make green coffee easy to access—whether you’re a hobby roaster at home or a professional roasting hundreds of tonnes a year. Our platform is designed to simplify buying green coffee, just like any other online shopping experience. No fuss, just great coffee at your fingertips.

How does Green Coffee Collective support my business growth?

Our vision is to make amazing coffee accessible to roasters of all sizes. We provide all the marketing materials and storytelling you need to showcase the origins of our coffees. If there’s anything missing that’s holding you back from making a purchase, just let us know! We’re always looking for ways to improve and make our products and information even more transparent. Many roasters have successfully scaled their offerings with our support, and we’re here to help you do the same.

What is your minimum order quantity (MOQ) for large-scale or long-term contracts?

For larger-scale or long-term contracts, you can start with as little as a single bag. We’re also working on tools to help you access harvests and reserve coffees before they even leave the country. While it’s not fully ready yet, we’re always here to help roasters of any size connect with the producers they want to work with.

What is your process for ensuring consistency between lots or harvests?

We work closely with our sourcing partners to make sure we’re always offering top-quality coffee. Most of the partners you’ll find on our site have years of experience in their regions, and they use that expertise to access the best coffees available each season. Their deep relationships with producers help maintain consistency in both quality and supply.

When is the harvest?

Harvest timing varies by region but broadly runs from June to December. Southern regions typically harvest slightly later.

Is Tanzania mostly Arabica or Robusta?

Around 70% of production is Arabica, grown in highland regions. Robusta makes up the remaining share, mostly in the northwest.