Coffee in São Tomé and Príncipe • Information, Recommendations • Bunaa

São Tomé and Príncipe is an island state in the Gulf of Guinea off Nigeria, about 200 km off the coast of Africa.
During the Portuguese colonial period, coffee was imported from Brazil in the first half of the 19th century.
Slaves worked on plantations until the abolition of slavery in 1876.
They were replaced by Angolan contract workers, who had to work under the same conditions – the modern slavery was born.
Only since 1975 the country is independent.
This led to the collapse of the plantation economy and the deterioration of the infrastructure a few years later.
In 1998, the Italian and chocolate producer Claudio Corallo bought the abandoned coffee plantations Nova Moca and Terreiro Velho.
São Tomé is growing Liberia coffee and 98 % Arabica varieties like Caturra, Bourbon and Novo Mundo at 600 – 1,000 m altitude.
Every year, about 1,000 bags of coffee are exported, with a large proportion to the quality-conscious consumers of Scandinavia.
The idyllic coffee plantations like Roca Agostinho Neto, Roca Bombaim, but also the largest plantation Roça Monte Café can be visited in day trips and various coffees can be tasted.
The coffe is full-bodied. Body, acidity and harmony are above average – ideal for blends.

4 Comments

Jon Mc Lea

We are growing coffee on Principe

Wim de Beer

Dear Sir / Madam

Please advise how to go about in securing coffee for importation to South Africa?

4 Comments