Speranza coffee launched to support Alzheimer's research

Nairobi Tea and Coffee has launched a new coffee for the catering trade in support of the Alzheimer's Research Trust.

The company - which was established by two adventurers who came back from Kenya in the early 1900s and started a roastery to prepare the coffee they brought back with them - has said that it was greatly touched by reading a recent article by the author Terry Pratchett, who himself suffers from the ailment.

"His powerful article hit a raw nerve and brought home the importance of addressing the increasing incidence of Alzheimer's," said the company's Alnur Merali.

"Our whole society is changing due to a longer living generation. Although the life expectancy of this generation is lengthening, Alzheimer's, a condition that robs them of their dignity bit by bit, diminishes its quality.

"Alzheimer's and dementia is distressful to experience and watch, and as it becomes more prevalent and starts to threaten the stable family network, it is time to act. It is imperative that the current high level of awareness of Alzheimer's continues to keep its momentum, so that more funding is generated and a cure is found faster."

To raise funds for research, Nairobi has now launched a new coffee blend called Speranza, an Italian word meaning ‘hope'.

The blend is described as an aromatic coffee with a smooth velvety texture and chocolatey undertones. It is being made available first to catering and foodservice customers, but will probably be produced in retail packs later.

Nairobi Tea and Coffee will give 20% of profits from all its online sales for the month of November 2008 to the Alzheimer's Research Trust. The same percentage of all sales of Speranza will go to the Trust.

By Ian Boughton