Tanzania — Leon Christianakis Acacia Hills Geisha (Washed)

Tastes Like — 🍈 Green Honeydew Melon • 🌹 Rose • 🍵 Red Rooibos Tea

DETAILS

• Producer: Leon Christianakis
• Farm: Acacia Hills
• Region: Mount Oldeani, Tanzania
• Varietal: Geisha
• Process: Washed

INTRO Leon Christianakis's washed Geisha returns for the third year running — and it's as memorable as ever. Delicate green honeydew melon runs throughout, framed by a stable rose florality and the lingering juiciness of red rooibos tea. In the cup: green honeydew melon, rose, and red rooibos tea.

THE PRODUCER Leon Christianakis is the third generation of his family to grow coffee in Tanzania, descended from Greek immigrants who arrived in the early 20th century to build a life in coffee production. The land they first cultivated sat too low in altitude for specialty-grade quality, so in the early 2000s Leon began searching for higher ground. In 2007, together with partner Mark Stell, he purchased land on Mount Oldeani that would become Acacia Hills, planting varieties suited to quality at altitude — Kent, SL28, Pacamara, and Geisha.

Geisha is among the most prized coffee varieties for its exceptional quality potential, intense perfumed florality, and clarity of flavour. An Ethiopian heirloom first identified in the 1930s in the forests of Gori Gesha, it drew global attention in 2005 when Hacienda La Esmeralda's entry won the Best of Panama competition — since then, it's become the most lauded variety in commercial cultivation, regularly topping Cup of Excellence competitions.

THE PROCESS This lot is Washed, a method that removes the fruit before fermentation and drying — letting Geisha's naturally intense florality and clarity come through cleanly, building the melon, rose, and rooibos character that define this cup.

THE CUP Delicate and clear — green honeydew melon runs throughout, a stable rose florality holds steady, and the finish lingers with a juicy red rooibos tea character. A consistently memorable Geisha from one of Tanzania's most dedicated growers.

Flavour Notes 🍈 Green Honeydew Melon 🌹 Rose 🍵 Red Rooibos Tea