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Variety encyclopedia

Ruiru 11

Ruiru 11 is a compact, high-yielding Arabica hybrid developed by the Coffee Research Foundation in Kenya and released in 1985. It was created as a response to a devastating coffee berry disease epidemic in the late 1960s that threatened national production. The variety is a composite cultivar derived from a complex multicross involving Catimor and various SL cultivars, providing resistance to both coffee berry disease and coffee leaf rust. Its compact growth habit allows for higher planting densities compared to traditional varieties, making it a practical choice for smallholder farmers looking to maximize land use.

TagsRuiru 11ArabicaSL28SL34Timor HybridCentroamericano
Where did it come from?

Developed at the Coffee Research Station in Ruiru and released in 1985, after coffee berry disease devastated Kenya's crops. A composite hybrid: multiple parental lines including SL28-related material and Timor-line resistance.

What does it tend to taste like?

Early releases were unfairly dismissed against the SL28 legend; continuous selection keeps improving the cup. Proof that resistance and quality can coexist — and that variety names carry reputations longer than facts.

Plant characteristics

Compact dwarf; high yields, early bearing, suited to dense planting.

Why producers grow it

CBD and rust resistance with high early yields — harvest security on small farms.

Sources & further reading

Editorial record last reviewed: . Sources document specific claims, not guarantees about every coffee sold under this variety name.

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