Mozambique’s Rediscovered Coffees: Biodiversity, Resilience and New Opportunities

Beyond Arabica and Robusta

When discussing coffee, attention is almost always focused on Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora, the two species that dominate global production and trade. Arabica is valued primarily for the quality of its beverage, while C. canephora, commonly associated with Robusta coffee, is also cultivated because of its greater adaptability to challenging environmental conditions.

However, the genus Coffea comprises more than 130 species, many of which remain poorly known and are scarcely used commercially. A significant proportion of this diversity is concentrated in tropical Africa, where several species grow in the wild or are maintained within local farming systems.

Mozambique is home, among others, to Coffea racemosa and Coffea zanguebariae, two species closely associated with the territories of the East African coast. Interest in them is currently growing, both because of the sensory characteristics of their beverages and because of certain ecological and genetic traits that could prove valuable in the context of climate change.

Coffee cultivation is particularly sensitive to rising temperatures, variability in rainfall and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. Broadening the genetic base currently available therefore represents one possible strategy for enhancing the adaptive capacity of the coffee sector.

Inhambane Coffee

Coffea racemosa, also known as “Inhambane coffee”, is native to central and southern Mozambique and is also found in eastern Zimbabwe, Eswatini and north-eastern South Africa. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, also reports it as native to islands in the Mozambique Channel.

The species grows in environments characterised by high temperatures and a long dry season—conditions that differ considerably from those typically associated with Arabica, which generally thrives in cooler and more humid areas.

The fruits of C. racemosa are small and ripen rapidly, in approximately four months. Its seeds are also smaller than those of the main commercial species, and yields tend to be lower. These characteristics have probably contributed to limiting its commercial cultivation.

From the perspective of environmental adaptation, however, the species displays several traits of interest. Studies examining the climatic profiles of wild coffee species associate its distribution with mean annual temperatures of approximately 23°C and annual rainfall of around 800 millimetres—values considerably lower than those recorded across Arabica’s natural range.

Its sensory profile also differs from that of more widely cultivated coffees. Available assessments report notes of jasmine, cocoa, cinnamon, liquorice and aromatic herbs. The species could therefore find a place primarily within niche markets, where origin, distinctiveness and sensory characteristics can provide added value.

Ibo Island Coffee

Coffea zanguebariae is found in northern Mozambique, particularly in Cabo Delgado Province and the Quirimbas Archipelago. The species is distributed across north-eastern Mozambique and southern Tanzania and is also locally known as “Ibo coffee”.

Its presence on Ibo Island is linked to the long history of exchanges along the Indian Ocean trade routes. For centuries, the Quirimbas Archipelago served as a meeting point for different peoples and trading networks. The cultivation of coffee in the island’s gardens and small plots is therefore part of a local agricultural heritage that developed within this historical context.

For a long time, C. zanguebariae was confused with C. racemosa and was also described under different names, including Coffea ibo. Subsequent genetic analyses confirmed that they are two distinct species.

C. zanguebariae also exhibits good adaptation to high temperatures. Its distribution is associated with mean temperatures of approximately 25°C. Available sensory assessments describe profiles characterised by floral, spicy and herbaceous notes, in some cases accompanied by hints of eucalyptus and anise.

A Diversity That Remains Poorly Understood

The differences between C. racemosa and C. zanguebariae also extend to the composition of their seeds.

A study published in 2026, based on the analysis of 45 wild accessions collected from different areas of Mozambique, revealed marked variability in the chemical composition of the analysed material.

On average, C. racemosa was found to have a lower caffeine content than the main commercial species. This trait could make it an interesting candidate for the selection of naturally low-caffeine coffees. C. zanguebariae, by contrast, has higher concentrations, closer to those observed in Robusta.

The study also highlights significant differences among accessions belonging to the same species. This finding is particularly important because it indicates that the populations found in Mozambique do not constitute a uniform group but retain genetic and chemical diversity that could be used in selection and breeding programmes.

This very variability, however, also calls for particular attention to conservation. The loss of local populations or the spread of a limited number of genotypes could diminish a significant proportion of the diversity currently available.

What Prospects Are There for Mozambique’s Native Coffees?

The potential valorisation of C. racemosa and C. zanguebariae therefore requires a gradual approach.

Before considering their commercial expansion, further knowledge is needed regarding the distribution of their populations, their genetic variability, their agronomic characteristics and the quality of the resulting beverages. At the same time, it would be important to document the cultivation and processing practices already employed in these areas, as well as the knowledge developed over time by local communities.

Conservation activities within their habitats of origin could be complemented by local collections, nurseries and participatory trials involving producers. Such an approach would make it possible to assess the production potential of different accessions without separating commercial valorisation from conservation objectives.

It is still premature to regard C. racemosa and C. zanguebariae as direct alternatives to Arabica and Robusta. Their low yields, small seed size and the still limited agronomic knowledge available represent significant constraints.

Nevertheless, they could play an important role in diversifying production, developing local or niche value chains and, above all, providing useful genetic traits for coping with increasingly challenging climatic conditions.

The presence of these species in Mozambique therefore represents a resource that deserves to be studied and conserved. Developing a better understanding of their diversity and of how they have been maintained within local territories can contribute not only to their valorisation, but also to the search for more diversified and resilient coffee production systems.