Zambia's main coffee zone, around Kasama and Mbala, with arabica grown at roughly 1,300-1,600 m, mostly washed SL-28 and Catimor.
Zambia's Northern Province, around Kasama and Mbala, is the main arabica zone and supplies around 97% of exportable coffee. Coffee grows at roughly 1,300-1,600 m, mainly SL-28 and Catimor, and the harvest runs about May to August. Washed is the most common process.
Field notes
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The largest producer runs three estates around Kasama and two around Mbala, together just over 3,500 ha, and is certified by both Rainforest Alliance and UTZ.
Processing
Elsewhere in Zambia
Sources · 2 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-11-10. Some details here are less settled than others.
- Exploring Zambia as a coffee origin · Perfect Daily Grind
- Zambia Coffee Production & Sourcing Guide · Omwani