Peets Uzuri African Blend

Peets Coffee and Tea has announced that it will introduce a new coffee blend called Uzuri African Blend. The launch is the result of hundreds of hours of hands-on farmer training by Peet’s coffee buyers.  This blend promises to offer coffee drinkers with an exceptional cup while at the same time generating income for 6,000 small-scale farmers in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.

This region of Africa is known for coffee with floral and aromatic flavors, and a flavor in the cup that is smooth, bold, and with dark berry overtones.  It represents the opportunity for a unique coffee experience while encouraging economic development in the area that gives it to us.  Uzuri (pronounced oo-ZUR-ee) will be available on Peets website for $13.95/lb.  It will be a new permanent coffee blend for Peets, their first new blend in eight years.

The name Uzuri means ”excellent” and ”beautiful” in Swahili and was chosen by the newly trained African farmers who will grow the coffee beans.  To make this effort a reality, Peet’s collaborated with the not-for-profit TechnoServe to bring the distinct flavors to North American coffee enthusiasts while creating a sustainable business model for thousands of farmers and their communities.

In my opinion, this is truly a win-win situation and I commend Peets for the undertaking.  Not only do we get to enjoy a new blend with confidence that it will meet Peets' harsh standard for quality in coffee...but we also help out the otherwise poor community that produces it for us.  I will be getting a pound on order.