Bulaago, Natural

Golden raisin, tropical fruits & sticky date pudding.

---

Although located in East Africa, Uganda hasn't historically been known for coffee quality: Zukuka Bora, mill operator and exporter founded by the NGO JENGA, are here to change that! Working closely with hundreds of smallholders in the high altitude Bulaago region, this impact driven team are helping to capture delicious flavours. Profits from coffee, like this natural process lot, return to communities in the form of education, health and clean water initiatives. Five Senses is proud to be featuring this flavour-packed Bulaago lot for the second time. Enjoy!

--- JENGA + Zukuka Bora + Five Senses ~~~ Over the past two decades, the presence of Ugandan coffees in the Aus coffee scene has come and gone. The country has a long coffee tradition and notably claims Canephora (aka Robusta) as an indigenous coffee species. However, the quality Arabica coffee species preferred by the specialty industry has been sidelined by a lack of financial return in the Ugandan market and significant gaps in infrastructure that put a ceiling on quality. All of the ingredients are there though - volcanic soils, good rainfall and high altitudes - along with farming communities keen to use coffee as a vehicle for better lives. After working on the ground in the Mt Elgon region since 2005, NGO JENGA Community Development saw the potential and heard the demand from the communities they worked with and so launched the Zukuka Bora Coffee Company. With coffee farmers at the heart of this project - and as joint shareholders - the team at Zukuka Bora set to, supporting them with tools, training, financing and, critically, the establishment of local mills to process the coffee. Not only does Zukuka Bora purchase ripe coffee from the farming communities surrounding these mills at a 20% premium to market rates, they also provide a bonus to farmers during 'the hungry season' - the middle of the season when farmers' money is invested in the ground, waiting on new crops. Now providing fairly-paid work for over 100 people during harvest in remote mountain areas, Zukuka Bora's profits go on to fund Jenga's education sponsorships, clean water schemes, health promotion and much more. These kinds of combined missions of quality coffee and impact initiatives are what Five Senses is all about and we're thrilled to be able to showcase the results in Australia! === Suggested Recipe ~~~ In: 22g Out: 42g Time: 29sec Temp: 94.5 ===

Sourced from the Bulaago region of Uganda, this natural-processed coffee is produced by Zukuka Bora and roasted by Five Senses. Natural-processed coffees often undergo a drying phase while the fruit remains intact, a technique that frequently contributes to a heavier body and pronounced sweetness in the final cup. In this specific lot, the roaster identifies flavor characteristics of golden raisin, tropical fruits, and sticky date pudding.

To better understand how these distinct profiles are categorized, you can explore our flavor wheel for a breakdown of common sensory descriptors. Additionally, for those interested in the technical nuances of how the cherry is handled post-harvest, our processing methods explainer provides further insight into the impact of the natural method on the bean’s development. This Ugandan offering highlights the unique regional character fostered by the team at Zukuka Bora, presenting a complex profile that balances deep, sugary notes with vibrant fruit tones.