Rwanda Sholi

TASTING NOTES:

Red grape, green tea, sugared almond

ROAST:

Medium

COFFEE PROFILE:

The Abateraninkunga Ba Sholi Co-operative—more commonly known as Aba Sholi—is based in the Cyeza sector of the Muhanga district, right in the heart of Rwanda. It began in 2008 as a grassroots effort by 30 women coffee growers determined to strengthen the local economy. At the time, coffee played only a small role in the association, as the region lacked a washing station and access to profitable markets.

That changed two years later when the group formally transitioned into a cooperative. From there, growth came gradually—more members joined each year, and in 2014, Aba Sholi proudly opened its own washing station.

The name “Abateraninkunga” means “mutual assistance” in Kinyarwanda, a fitting reflection of the co-op’s spirit and mission to bring local farmers together. Today, the cooperative includes 610 producers, many of them women, cultivating coffee between 1,800 and 2,000 meters above sea level. In 2015, Aba Sholi became Fair Trade certified and won the prestigious Rwanda Cup of Excellence—clear recognition of their commitment to quality and community. Their members now deliver cherries to the cooperative’s centrally owned washing station for processing.