Kenya Irera AB Fully Washed

The New Irera Factory is located near the Kariaini district, in the Muranga county. It is a member of the Kariua Farmers Cooperative Society. The Coop has 2.200 active members. The other factories of the Coop are: Mutheru, Mutitu and Githaiti.

The Muranga coffee growing region lies on the eastern foothills of the Aberdare Ridge (3.720 m). Smallholder farmers grow their coffees in this region on plots averaging 0.33 hectares with an average of 250 trees each. Muranga accounts for more 8% of the total coffee production of Kenya. The altitude range of the cultivated areas goes from 1340 to 1950 masl. Varieties cultivated here are mostly SL28, SL34 and to some degree Ruiru11 and Batian.

There are two particular varieties that attract most of the interest from specialty coffee buyers in Kenya, these are: SL 28 and SL 34. The Scott Laboratories were hired to develop new cultivars between 1934 and 1963. The development of cultivars SL, was based on the Mokka and Bourbon varieties, which were introduced into Kenya by Scottish and French missionaries, from Yemen and Reunion Island respectively.

Today, these two varieties are responsible for most of the top quality coffees produced in Kenya.