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Racemosa Coffee Growers/Suppliers

@sukkotcoffee

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Coffea Racemosa blooms of the new season. Wondering why the flowers are so different from one another? Coffea racemosa is a wild coffee species, endemic to the Elephant Coast. It has never been domesticated. The Racemosa coffee tree retains great genetic diversity, even though all the plants belong to the same species. The tiny coffee beans also vary in size and shape. #RacemosaBlooms #CoffeaRacemosa by @sukkotcoffee
3
18 days ago
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Racemosa trees are semi-deciduous. Notice how bare they are. Soon their tiny leaves will also appear. Most of these trees are 20+years old! They are petite little trees. #RacemosaCoffeeBlooms Racemosa trees are semi-deciduous. Notice how bare they are. Soon their tiny leaves will also appear. Most of these trees are 20 +yrs old! They are petite little trees. #RacemosaCoffeeBlooms by @sukkotcoffee
4
22 days ago
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This post mentions some PAST FACTS about the wild coffee species, Coffea racemosa. Tree books classify Coffea racemosa as an endangered species, as it is extremely rare in nature. This wild coffee species was, at the turn of this century, an almost forgotten coffee species—and very hard to come by in the wild, where it grows endemically along the Elephant Coast. The SA Coffee Research Station brought it to our attention here at Sukkot Coffee in 2000. Since then, I have searched tirelessly to obtain seeds to propagate it. After much perseverance, we succeeded. Bringing it to the attention of the then coffee community was an even harder task—and, even today, it is not an easy game to play. I was greatly encouraged when, some 20 years ago, the University of KZN, who were the first to show an interest in the future of Coffea racemosa, began visiting our Racemosa plantation. Soon thereafter, Cedara Agricultural College, as well as an agricultural college from Réunion Island, visited us too. It was only around 2015 that someone from the coffee world showed an interest in our efforts to produce Racemosa coffee. WHAT I FORESEE FOR THE FUTURE OF RACEMOSA: The possibility of Coffea racemosa ever being produced in significant tonnage is not great. But more on this topic in a future post. #HistoryOfRacemosaCoffee #RarestCoffee #SpecialityCoffee #SAcoffee by @sukkotcoffee
3
2 months ago
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In our 25 years of farming with Coffea racemosa, we have come to the conclusion that this species will never be able to produce beans in the same tonnage as Coffea arabica; thus it will always be on the market as an extremely rare coffee bean. There are several reasons for this. In brief, I will mention only a few of the basic facts. • We have noticed that Coffea racemosa trees bear very few cherries when grown in the shade. • A plantation grown in full sun produces more fruit, but the yield is still only a few grams of processed beans per tree. • Unfortunately, once a tree is grown in full sun, it never grows very large. Compare the two photos above, showing the growth of the same plantation over 13 years, from 2012 to 2025. • Compare the size of an Arabica leaf with that of a Racemosa leaf (see photo above). The smaller leaves enable the Racemosa tree to withstand drought. Unfortunately, because the tree is small and produces relatively few leaves, it is unable to support a large number of cherries. • Not only is the tree the size of a small shrub, but it also produces exceptionally small beans (see the photo above). • Racemosa cherries develop in just two months, from flower to ripe cherry, compared with approximately nine months for Arabica. Most of the crop ripens within only a few weeks. If picking is delayed, the ripe cherries either fall to the ground or dry out on the tree. This is especially problematic during December and January, when the many public holidays over Christmas and New Year make it difficult to secure pickers willing to work during these crucial harvest weeks. • Racemosa trees have a much shorter lifespan than Arabica trees. • Lichens often begin growing on trees that are only 10 to 13 years old. Although they do not kill the trees, they inhibit the formation of flower buds along the branches. #RaretyRacemosaCoffee #RarestCoffee by @sukkotcoffee
6
3 months ago
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RACEMOSA a WILD COFFEE. Coffea arabica can no longer be classified as wild because it has been domesticated. It is now considered a cultivar — a plant that has been deliberately developed to possess particular features. A hybrid is obtained by crossing one variety with another, or even one species (such as Arabica) with another (for instance, Robusta). Coffea racemosa has never been domesticated and therefore retains great genetic diversity, even though all plants belong to the same species. They are therefore not homogeneous — they do not consist of identical flowers, beans, or other characteristics. One may find flowers growing singly or in clusters in the leaf axils; they may be pink, cream-white, white, or dark pink. Even the beans vary in size and shape. I mention all of the above for a specific reason. Buyers of green Arabica beans expect uniformity in bean size. Any buyer of green Racemosa coffee beans should understand upfront that they are dealing with the uniqueness of a wild coffee species, not a domesticated coffee bean. Expecting uniformity is therefore unreasonable. The larger beans are roughly the size of lentils, while the smallest can sometimes be only slightly larger than a pinhead - having much greater natural variation in bean size. So too there is variations in density, compared with domesticated species like Coffea arabica, it can sometimes be harder to visually distinguish true quakers from naturally variable beans. However, at Sukkot Coffee, we painstakingly spend hours — sometimes even days — sorting out 'floaters', extremely small beans & damaged beans. I will always love Racemosa — protecting it, preserving it wild and untampered with. After all, is that not what is expected of a mother toward her child? #wildcoffee #racemosacoffee #motherofracemosa by @sukkotcoffee
2
4 months ago
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WHY is RACEMOSA RARE IN NATURE even if it GROWS ENDEMICALLY? Racemosa is scarce on the coffee market, but for now I'll touch on why I think it might be RARE, where it grows endemically in NATURE. The South African Coffee Research Station told me that Racemosa is not easily found in nature. Being puzzled by this I made it my business to discover the reason. This is my conclusion. On the Elephant Coast, where it grows endemically at a LOW ALTITUDE, the area consists mainly of dunes, coastal & sand forests, rocky outcrops & dry woodlands. Yet, there are very small & limited areas where Hutton soil is found in its endemic area. Fortunately, and with great thankfulness, Sukkot Coffee's Racemosa plantation is on Hutton soil which is a rich red soil, very deep, & well drained, (a high clay content, but low plasticity & thus good drainage). Here on our farm it germinates prolifically wherever man or a bird might drop fresh seeds. The fact that this is elsewhere not the case wherever it grows endemically, explains it all - it has to do with the soil composition of the Hutton soil on the Elephant Coast! #racemosagermination #soiltype by @sukkotcoffee
0
5 months ago
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Species that might look like Coffea racemosa, but are not: Although Coffea racemosa differs only slightly from Coffea zanquebariae and Coffea ibo - as they truly are rather close botanically - they are NOT the same species! Many people as well as the media has often classified it as Racemosa, thinking it's just another name for the same coffee growing in a different area. The other two species unfortunately does not have the wonderful cup quality that Coffea racemosa has. Racemosa grows endemically on the Elephant Coast/Maputaland - which is a very narrow coastal belt north of St Lucia in South Africa & the most Southern coastline of Mozambique, (stretching just under a quarter into her coastline). I was told by the South African Coffee Research Station, 27 yrs ago, should I see a Racemosa tree growing South of St Lucia in SA, or any place out side of the geographical area of the Elephant Coast, I can be sure that it was planted by man! These and other wild species, that grow further north, might look like Racemosa, but they are a different species! History: After first being identified in 1788, Racemosa was taken up by the colonial Portuguese on the coastline of the Elephant Coast (known years ago as Maputaland). It is believed that Coffea zanquebariae was introduced to Southern Mozambique by the Portuguese, and thus not endemic to the region. In 1906 Racemosa received its first gold medal for taste in Lisabon. It was apparently farmed from 1800 up until the 1970's. However, unfortunately much of what was later exported was actually Coffea zanguebariae! This led to much confusion, as it didn't make sense why it often didn't taste good! The Portuguese colonists literally had to flee overnight during the civil war in 1975. We at Sukkot Coffee started, 27yrs ago, to search for Racemosa trees where it grows endemically in the wild as well as where the Portuguese colonists used to farm with it. But, more about why it is rare, both in nature and when farming with it, I'll share in another post. #wildcoffee #racemosacoffee #racemosacoffeefacts by @sukkotcoffee
1
5 months ago
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False information has been surfacing recently, therefore I would like to clarify some facts. Close to 27yrs ago Marlene, the "Mother of Racemosa" and founder of Sukkot Coffee started to search for fresh Racemosa coffee seeds in the wild. She grew up in this area, the Elephant Coast, where it grows endemically. Even before Sukkot Coffee was established she visited the South African Coffee Research Station. Most of her information about Racemosa she received from a researcher. Sadly since then the Research Station has deteriorated to a state of inefficiency. We are planning to correct some misinformation concerning Coffea racemosa. Thus keep following this platform for facts around Racemosa. They will soon follow. #racemosacoffeefacts #coffearacemosafacts by @sukkotcoffee
7
5 months ago
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Trust this could clarify the difference between the above term - endemic vs indigenous. Racemosa is therefore Endemic to the Elephant Coast, but not for instance to Zimbabwe. Neither north, south & west of the narrow coastal belt of the Elephant Coast. The main point here is this:- If a Racemosa tree is found outside of the coastal belt of the Elephant Coast, you can know for sure it isn't natural & was planted by man. #endemiccoffee #rarestcoffee #indigenouscoffee by @sukkotcoffee
1
6 months ago
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For the love of Racemosa! #rarestcoffee #coffearacemosa #lowcaffeine #lekkercoffee by @sukkotcoffee
2
7 months ago
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... in order to serve it as a cup of coffee. This passion grew more & more over the past 25yrs ☕️. #endemiccoffee #coffearacemosa #rarecoffeebeans by @sukkotcoffee
1
9 months ago
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Some things are done simply to give. I’m always on the lookout for something special to serve at Sunday service — coffees with a story, interesting varietals, something meaningful to share in community. When I reached out to Sukkot Coffee, I honestly didn’t expect what followed. They sent me an entire box of Coffea Racemosa to explore and taste — no charge, no expectation — only a sincere wish that people might get to know this coffee, and that it be shared freely. They had heard that the church doesn’t do this for money, and they wanted to give back in the same spirit. Along with the coffee came a handwritten letter. It was gentle, heartfelt, and deeply intentional — about stewardship, patience, and giving. Old-fashioned kindness, the kind that stays with you. Coffea Racemosa itself carries a remarkable story: It’s one of more than 100 wild coffee species known to man — and the only one prized for its unique, fragrant flavour. Indigenous and incredibly rare, it grows along the Elephant Coast of Mozambique and northern KZN. Once cultivated by the Portuguese, it was nearly lost after 1975, before being slowly revived through decades of dedication by the founder of Sukkot Coffee — often called the Mother of Racemosa. Today, it’s considered one of the rarest coffees in the world. This wasn’t just coffee that arrived. It was history, faith, generosity, and care — given freely. Thank you, @sukkotcoffee , for trusting me with something so special, and for reminding me what it means to give without expectation. #coffeewithastory #AfricanCoffee #TinyBeanClub #rarecoffee #givingback taken in The People's Church, Constantia by @sukkotcoffee
1
9 months ago
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