In honor of Women’s History Month, and International Women’s Day (March 8) we’re featuring the producers of our soon-to-be-released Single Origin coffee. Grown in the northern province of Gekenke, the Rwanda Hingawkawa is a premium lot grown by a group of women who have organized themselves as the Hingawkawa Women’s Association. In Kinyarwanda, Hingakawa means “let’s grow coffee”.

The Hingakawa Women's Association is part of the Abakundakawa Cooperative, a fair-trade farmers group whose name translates to “those who love coffee”, and produces some of the finest coffees in Rwanda. Established by 180 members in 2004, it has grown to almost two thousand members, 40% of which are women. It has two washing stations, the Rushashi mill being the bigger of the two.

After the devastation created by the civil war in 1994, opposing Hutu and Tutsi women set aside cultural differences to work together fighting their common enemy, poverty. Today, the specialty coffee sector in Rwanda is playing a big role in rebuilding the country, by elevating the standard of living of these hard-working women and their families. In less than ten years Rwanda has been able to transform their crops from low grade coffee production to competing in CoE (Cup of Excellence) with high marks.

We can’t wait to share this new Single Origin Rwanda coffee with you on April 1st! 

Update: the Rwanda Hingakawa Single Origin is now available for purchase at the cafés and online in 12oz or 5lb bags