Sipi Falls Organic Coffee


Mount Elgon lies in the Eastern reaches of the country, straddling the Uganda/Kenya border. Judging by its enormous base it is thought that Mt Elgon was once the tallest mountain in Africa. From the edge of the Mountain, the expanse of the parched Karamoja plains stretches West towards the Nile, heat shimmering up from the dry red soil. But it is cool up on the ancient volcanic slopes, tempered by altitude, primary forest and the numerous streams, rivers and dramatic waterfalls that plunge off the cliffs.

It is widely believed by the local people that God lives up on Mount Elgon, far beyond where people go. If God is happy, they say, he brings rain. God has been happy for many years now, as the gardens clinging to the mountainside are bountiful. The coffee shambas extend up and down the cliff faces, making use of natural water gullies and forest cover to extract moisture from the soil. Dawn finds Sipi Falls still wrapped in the shadow of the massive Mountain, shrouded in mist.

The splendour of the falls is known throughout the region and revered by the local people – the river brings good luck. Over the years, tragedy has been known to strike in nearby rivers, seasonal rising waters have swept away livestock, crops and loved ones. As far back as the villagers can remember, nothing bad has ever happened in the waters of Sipi River. Sipi’s waters are peaceful. The Sipi River is named after the ‘Sep’, a plant indigenous to the banks of the River. Resembling a type of wild banana, Sep is a medicinal plant, the translucent green frond with a bolt of crimson rib is used for treating measles and fever.

Over the years the Bagisu farmers have gained a reputation for producing some of the finest washed Arabica in Kenya and Uganda. In time they gave their name to their coffee and the Bugisu Washed Arabica was born.

The altitude of this coffee growing area lies between 1,600 and 1,900 metres, which brings a difficult terrain to traverse in the rainy seasons. Very often there are no roads, only dirt tracks which are washed away by the rains. But the resourceful Bagisu tribesmen who live on the mountain have become expert coffee farmers and have developed their own transportation methods: Donkeys. Grown in this magical setting, Sipi Falls Coffee is the only Organic Bugisu Arabica Coffee available in Uganda.

Sipi Falls Organic Coffee - Bugisu Arabica

The well-rounded body combined with bright acidity, a fine aroma, and a long finish make it a coffee either to add weight to a blend or indeed as a stand-alone single origin brand.