Leon Christianakis is the owner of two farms in Tanzania: Acacia Hills and Tembo Tembo.

This time, we are pleased to introduce his Geisha coffee from Tembo Tembo Farm.

We previously featured his Geisha two years ago, which came from Acacia Hills Farm.
This lot, however, marks the very first harvest of Geisha from Tembo Tembo.

Acacia Hills Geisha has since become a globally celebrated lot. Drawing on the cultivation and processing expertise developed there, Leon has applied those techniques to his newer farm — resulting in this Tembo Tembo Geisha (“tembo” means elephant in Swahili.)

With a quality that’s remarkable for a first harvest, this coffee showcases the signature elegance of the Geisha variety, with fragrant jasmine-like florals and juicy peach-like fruit notes. When hot, it offers a flavor reminiscent of lemon tea; as it cools, a smooth sweetness like milk candy gently unfolds.

In every cup, you can truly feel Leon’s passion and love for coffee.

Experience this African Geisha that carries the vibrant energy of its land.

Background

Leon, who describes himself as a “white Tanzanian,” was born and raised in a village at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania. His grandfather, originally from Greece, founded a coffee farm there in 1920. His father worked as a local doctor and also ran a coffee farm on the side.

Leon eventually moved to the UK, where he studied and worked as a pharmacist. But in 1996, when he was 29, feeling the pull to return home and start a family, he moved back to Tanzania with his wife Aideen, whom he had met in the UK. That’s when he began helping with the family coffee business.

Stepping into specialty journey

At the time, the farm was located at a lower elevation and produced only commercial-grade coffee. The highly volatile market made it difficult to generate consistent income. Faced with the challenge of building a sustainable business, Leon turned to specialty coffee.

In 2005, he attended an annual coffee expo in East Africa (what’s now known as the African Fine Coffees Conference & Exhibition: AFCA), where he crossed paths with a key figure: Mark Stell, the founder of Portland Coffee Roasters in the United States.

“The coffee from Oldeani was incredible. It was the best Tanzanian coffee I’d ever tasted,” Mark told him. Encouraged by those words, Leon purchased land in Oldeani in 2007 and began producing specialty coffee.

Tembo Tembo

But the land Leon acquired in Oldeani had been neglected for years and was in poor shape. He began by rehabilitating the soil and gradually planted not only Kent, the traditional variety, but also Geisha, Pacamara, and SL28 to meet diverse market demands. Starting from their first harvest being only a few kilos, they slowly but steadily increased the yield.

This lot we are sharing with you is from the first harvest of their Tembo Tembo farm- by applying the knowledge and technology they gained through Acacia Hills on harvesting and processing, they achieved a wonderful quality almost unbelievable for a first harvest. (Fun fact: “Tembo” means elephant in Swahili. The farm borders the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where large animals like elephants and buffalo roam.)

Farm’s philosophy

“One thing I’ve always valued is treating the farm like open source. If there’s knowledge, experience, or lessons from our success that could help someone else, even another producer, I’m happy to share. We don’t keep secrets.

It’s not about scaling up for the sake of it. What I want is a strong, self-sustaining foundation that will carry on even after I’m gone. I hope this farm will still be here 50 or 100 years from now, protecting the natural environment and creating jobs for people in the community. That’s why we plan to leave about 40% of the land, including the new section, untouched. I have no interest in maximizing efficiency if it means compromising biodiversity.”

Since Leon bought the farm 18 years ago, the number of staff has grown from 7 to 150. Coffee production has also multiplied about 10 times over. “Slow but steady – that’s our style.” Leon says- the philosophy that lies as the foundation of their sustainable business model.

Excerpt & refernce: https://typica.coffee/en/narratives/producers/acacia-hills-tembo-tembo/

Edwin Agaso oversees coffee quality control at both Acacia Hills and Tembo Tembo farms. Originally from Kenya, he is a coffee professional who earned his Q Grader certification in 2010 and brings over 18 years of experience in quality evaluation, cupping, and coffee management. Thanks to his expertise, both farms maintain consistently high quality standards.

The 2024/25 Harvest

The 2024/25 harvest season was shorter than usual, with lower overall yields due to natural cycles and challenging climate conditions. The main factors were as follows:

First, it was an off year — a natural cycle in which production decreases. Rain associated with El Niño triggered a synchronized flowering of the coffee trees, causing cherries to ripen all at once. With more than 70% of the flowers blooming within a single week, the cherries competed intensely for nutrients and water.

Second, an unexpected dry period arrived between July and September. The lack of rainfall hindered flowering and slowed both the development and ripening of the coffee cherries.

Third, strong winds and significant temperature fluctuations placed additional stress on the coffee trees. The warm and humid conditions also created an environment where pests and diseases could spread more easily.

Despite these challenges, effective fertilization at Acacia Hills helped promote uniform cherry maturation, preventing uneven development. Careful attention throughout processing has resulted in coffees with outstanding flavor profiles.

Tanzania Harvest Update 2024/25

The exporter of this coffee is Acacia Hills Coffee Estate — in other words, Leon’s own farm.

Realizing Direct Trade

In 2003, the Tanzanian government introduced a coffee export liberalization policy. Under this system, producers and companies that meet certain requirements are allowed to trade directly with overseas buyers and roasters, without going through the government auction. Leon has made full use of this framework, establishing a structure in which he operates not only as a producer but also as an exporter.

Building Market Channels

In the early days, Leon sold his entire production to Mark Stell of Portland Coffee Roasters. However, recognizing the risks of relying on a single sales channel, he began actively developing new trading relationships himself.

He started hosting invitation-only cupping events in the region, giving buyers the opportunity to taste his coffees firsthand. In 2020, he also participated in a private auction organized by ACE, where he encountered TYPICA. Today, around 60% of his production is delivered to roasters around the world through TYPICA.

A Trade Style Built on Trust

Leon speaks highly of his relationship with TYPICA, saying, “The people at TYPICA are very sincere — you feel they would never betray you. Working with them is simply a pleasure.” While rising market prices often bring more potential buyers, Leon remains committed to prioritizing TYPICA regardless of the offers he receives.

This long-term, trust-based approach forms the foundation of Leon’s style of direct trade.