Arabica · Coffee Variety
Kent
Kent is one of coffee's first deliberately selected resistant varieties: a Typica line chosen on an Indian estate for tolerance to the leaf rust that had devastated Asian coffee. It spread through India and East Africa in the 1930s–40s, becoming a foundation of Tanzanian planting.
Its rust tolerance has largely eroded against modern races, but Kent persists in Tanzania and parts of India for its vigorous growth and quality: a sweet, winey, full cup that carries the old Typica elegance with more muscle.
Kent at a glance
| Species | Arabica |
|---|---|
| Lineage | Typica selection made on Kent's estate, Mysore, India, in the 1920s |
| Plant stature | Tall, vigorous |
| Yield potential | Medium |
| Disease resistance | Historically rust-tolerant; largely overcome by modern races |
| Optimal altitude | 1,200–1,800 m |
| Bean size | Large |
| Cup profile | Winey fruit, round sweetness, and gentle citrus — Typica elegance with added body |
Where Kent is grown
Kent — frequently asked questions
Was Kent the first resistant coffee variety?
Among the very first deliberately selected ones — chosen in 1920s India specifically for rust tolerance, decades before modern Timor-hybrid breeding.
Where is Kent grown today?
Mainly Tanzania — where it remains a core northern variety alongside Bourbon — and heritage plots in India; its genetics also live on inside India's S795.
Does Kent still resist rust?
Only partially; rust races have evolved past its original tolerance. Its persistence now owes more to vigor, adaptation, and cup quality.
Sourcing Kent? Volcana Coffee grows and exports high-altitude Catimor, Typica, and washed Fine Robusta from the Bolaven Plateau, Laos — with SGS-inspected quality and full export documentation.
Request a Sample