Exploring the Coffee Roots of Malawi with Ecotact

A landlocked country in southern Africa, Malawi has spectacular highlands and lakes. But what makes this breathtaking place even more impactful is coffee! In fact, in 1993, Malawi exported approximately 109,000 bags of coffee, each weighing 60kg. But today, the estates do not grow only coffee as the main cash crop. Tobacco, tea, and macadamia nuts are also major earners. In this blog, we will dive into the history of coffee in Malawi, its coffee culture, and how Ecotact, with its hermetically sealed bags, can safeguard the Malawian coffee beans to its best.

Discovering The Malawian Coffee

Coffee was first introduced to Malawi in 1880 by British missionaries and grew in popularity after its independence in the 1960s. However, most people associate African coffee with Kenya and Ethiopia. But Malawi is another country that offers its own special coffee flavors. While the production of coffee is gradually increasing, the quality remains absolutely premium. In fact, Malawian coffee is well-known to aficionados! However, it becomes even more essential to ensure that the premium quality is maintained with optimum coffee packaging bags, such as those of Ecotact.

In accordance, the popularity of Malawian coffee is steadily rising. In fact, in 2023, Malawi exported $3.68M of coffee, to become the 94th largest exporter of coffee in the world. Most of Malawi’s coffee is grown in the southern region, where small cooperatives and some large estates drive the country’s coffee production. The estates produce around 2/3 of the annual coffee. The remaining 1/3 of the pile is done by 3,000–4,000 smallholder coffee farmers. Interestingly, these farmers are organized into six different cooperatives, which help market and sell the produce for the farmers.

FUN FACT: The cooperatives are organized into different picturesque regions. These include regions like Maluku Hills, Phoka Hills, Viphya North, Nkhatabay Highlands, Southeast Zimba, and Ntchisi East—each adding its own unique character to the cup!

Unique Taste of Malawian Coffee

Known for its balanced flavor, Malawian coffee comes with sweet, floral notes and a hint of spice. The bright and delicate character makes the coffee truly unique in taste and aroma. In Malawi, the Arabica type of coffee is the only one that grows. Previously, the country had a different favorite, the Caturra variety. However, the plant was slowly replaced with the Catimor. Today, in Malawi, one can also find coffee varieties like Cuatai, K7, Ruiru11, SL28, and SL34.

Malawian coffee farmers use minimal synthetic products while cultivating, plus the processing is way more natural. That’s exactly why people who enjoy the organic flavour of coffee are increasingly loving Malawian coffee. Moreover, it is generally enjoyed as espresso. The cup typically offers bright acidity, floral and citrusy notes, and a clean, smooth body. Its natural profile and refreshing taste make it a rising favourite in the global specialty coffee scene.

Ecotact - The Best Hermetic Packaging Solution

With a global presence in 50+ countries and across 6 continents, Ecotact offers affordable hermetic packaging for green coffee beans for local farmers, small businesses, large farms, and organizations. Ecotact bags are 100% recyclable and reusable, making them a strong step towards sustainability. Having 9 layers of high-barrier packaging, these eco-friendly coffee packaging bags keep green coffee beans, cacao beans, and any other grains fresh without the help of insecticides and pesticides. If you want to keep your Malawian coffee as fresh as the day it was harvested, explore Ecotact now!