Tanzania - MC Grecof

Introduction

Flag:

Card:

Background:

Shortly after independence, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule came to an end in 1995 with the first democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s. Zanzibar's semi-autonomous status and popular opposition have led to two contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities.

Geography

Location:

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique

Coordinates:

6° 00' S, 35° 00' E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 945,087 sq km
land: 886,037 sq km
water: 59,050 sq km

Note:

includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar

Land boundaries:

total: 3,402 km
border countries: Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km

Coastline:

1.424 km

Maritime claims:

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:

varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Terrain:

plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel

Geography - note:

Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa

People

Population:

36,232,074

Note:

estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Tanzanian(s)
adjective: Tanzanian

Ethnic groups:

mainland - native African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab);
Zanzibar - Arab, native African, mixed Arab and native African

Religions:

mainland - Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 20%;
Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim

Languages:

Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages

Note:

Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety of sources, including Arabic and English, and it has become the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most people is one of the local languages

Goverment

Country name:

conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania
conventional short form: Tanzania
former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Government type:

Republic

Capital:

Dar es Salaam

Anmerkung:

legislative offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital; the National Assembly now meets there on regular basis

Flag description:

divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue

Economy

Economy - overview:

Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for half of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry is mainly limited to processing agricultural products and light consumer goods. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's deteriorated economic infrastructure. Growth in 1991-2000 featured a pick up in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Natural gas exploration in the Rufiji Delta looks promising and production could start by 2002. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth and investment. Continued donor support and solid macroeconomic policies should allow Tanzania to achieve real GDP growth of 6% in 2001 and in 2002.

Industries:

primarily agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond and gold mining, oil refining, shoes, cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer, salt

Agriculture - products:

coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves (Zanzibar), corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Currency

Tanzanian shilling (TZS)

Currency code:

TZS

Transportation

Railways:

total: 3,569 km (1995)
narrow gauge: 2,600 km 1.000-m gauge; 969 km 1.067-m gauge

Note:

the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia (of which 969 km are in Tanzania and 891 km are in Zambia) is not a part of Tanzania Railways Corporation; because of the difference in gauge, this system does not connect to Tanzania Railways

Highways:

total: 88,200 km
paved: 3,704 km
unpaved: 84,496 km (1996)

Waterways:

Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa are principal avenues of commerce between Tanzania and its neighbors on those lakes
Ports and harbors: Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Kilwa Masoko, Lindi, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pangani, Tanga, Wete, Zanzibar

Coffee

In terms of the Tanzania coffee character, it belongs to the Central/East African family of washed (wet-processed) coffees, bright (acidy), and mostly aggressively flavourful of which Kenya is certainly the dominant coffee. Peaberries are often sorted out and sold at high premiums, but the cup is sometimes tainted and not worth the price. It has become a novelty coffee, and sells well in the US, so many roasters capitulate. Yes, it is a coffee with great potential but shipments arriving in the US do not always express that truly excellent Tanzanian cup. One possibility is the coffee ages in shipping containers on its way to port, since Tanzania does not have the infrastructure of Kenya.

Tanzania Peaberry - New crop (2003) screen 17

It's good to have a little background information on Tanzanian coffees; A good Tanzanian coffee from the North can be a treat, but many lots that arrive in the U.S. never had a chance. The Northern coffees are grown near Kenya (Mt. Kilimanjaro) and bear that out in the cup: more acidity, lighter body. But the Southern district coffees from the mountains of the northeast rim of Lake Malawi are full bodied, have milder acidity, and extremely long in the aftertaste. The problem with Tanzanian Peaberry has less to do with where it is from and the original cup quality it possesses. Poor cup character is the result of poor transporation routes to port, and while at port the shipping container that is delayed from leaving the country can bake the coffee in the humid, blistering sun ...not good. So even a good Tanzanian coffee can go bad en route. The result are harsh, baggy flavors in the cup. The Ruvumas show none of that, and this Peaberry has a great combination of strong character with balance. It has more body than the Northern peaberry, lighter acidity, a twist of East Africa wildness (part hidey, part rooty), and a long aftertaste. This 2003 lot we have now is the best Tanzanian coffee I have ever cupped! It is a deep, complex array of flavors with an apricot brandy fruitiness and almond oil finish, which turns to a sweet jasmine as the cup cools.

Special for Arabica coffees is not, that coffee is coming from north and south part of the country but that the character of the coffee is by far different.
The coffees from the north are comparable in a certain extend to Kenia coffee, but the coffee from the south (shipments starting earlier in the year) are wellknown because of their `fruity` taste.

In general the coffee is classified as per size, cup etc as the Kenya coffee.
Shipment will take place from port Dar-es-Salaam (for north) and Tanga for south or AMEX coffee.

The natural Arabicas and the Robusta coffee is mainly from the Bukoba area western of Lake Victoria.

Major Coffee Growing Regions:

Moshi District: sides of Mt. Kilimanjaro
Arusha: Meru
Oldeani.
Pare: High Plateau between Lakes Nyassa and Taganyika, Songea -Ruvuma (South at Lake Malawi)
Hochebene zwischen den Seen Nyassa und Taganyika, Songea - Ruvuma (Südlich vom See Malawi)

Grading,
Processing :

AA
 A
AB
UG, F etc.

(14% of crop)
(24% of crop)
(45% of crop)
Lowest= HP, coffee from ground + debris

Altitude:

950 - 1,900 Meter

Harvest Times::

Oktober bis February

Shppingperiode:

November bis April

port of export:

Tanga (Amex Kaffees)
Dar-es-Salaam (faq)

Shipment:

in container in bags (upto 320 of 60.- kos net each)

Production:

980.000 bags

Export figures:

530.921 bags

Caffeine content:

1,42 %

Produktion:

980,000 Sack

Export:

530,921 Sack

Koffeininhalt:

1,42 %