Yunnan China Coffee Bean Origin Regions Yunnan Coffee Bean Recommendations Small Bean Domestic Coffee Brewing Flavor Descriptions

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Asian Coffee

Flavor Characteristics: Deep Flavor and Rich Body

When mentioning Asian coffee, the first impression among coffee enthusiasts is often its rich and mellow character. It is precisely because of the heavy characteristics of Asian coffee that it is very suitable as a base when making espresso blends. Asian coffee beans are generally processed using wet or semi-wet methods. The raw beans are mostly uniform in size, though semi-wet processed beans tend to have darker colors. The common characteristics of Asian coffee include heavy flavor, strong and rounded sweetness, but the aroma and brightness are somewhat plain.

Domestic coffee bean growing regions are mainly in Hainan, Yunnan, Guangdong, and Taiwan. The northern part of Hainan Island and the southern part of Yunnan Province, located between 15 degrees north latitude and the Tropic of Cancer, produce coffee that is rich but not bitter, fragrant but not intense, making it very unique. With a hint of fruitiness, it is considered premium coffee and has received international acclaim.

Taiwan is situated in the subtropical zone with mountainous terrain and distinct rainy seasons, providing a fairly good growing environment for coffee. Since coffee trees were introduced by the British during the Guangxu period, small-scale cultivation still exists today. Notable growing areas include the Huichang Farm in Nantou's mountainous region (over 1,000 meters above sea level) and Hebao Mountain in Yunlin's Gukeng (294 meters above sea level). The coffee flavor is similar to Central and South American beans, with soft acidity and good texture, offering a balanced taste.

Yunnan is China's main coffee bean growing region. Located south of the Tropic of Cancer, Yunnan belongs to the subtropical mountainous climate zone, featuring unique red plateau soil that is fertile and loose, with a mild climate particularly suitable for growing arabica coffee.

Yunnan coffee was first introduced in 1902 by French missionaries, and to this day, 24 coffee trees over 90 years old still grow in Zhukula Township, Binchuan County. In 1914, the Jingpo people of Ruili again introduced coffee seeds from Myanmar to Nongxian Village. Typica and Bourbon, two classic premium coffee varieties, are the main cultivated varieties in Yunnan. Due to the similar morphology and habits of these two varieties, they are often mixed in cultivation. Bourbon's terminal buds and young leaves are green, earning it the name "green-topped coffee"; Typica's terminal leaves are copper-colored, known as "red-topped coffee."

After examining Yunnan's coffee cultivation and primary processing bases, tasting experts from the International Coffee Organization evaluated Yunnan coffee as comparable to Colombian wet-processed arabica coffee, ranking it among the world's highest quality coffees.

Currently, Yunnan coffee is mainly distributed across 11 prefectures and cities including Baoshan, Simao, Yuxi, and Dehong. Among these, the coffee quality from Baoshan and Simao regions is superior.

The dry-hot river valley of Lujiangba is Baoshan's "tropical treasure," with an average temperature of 21.5°C and maximum temperatures reaching 40.4°C, basically frost-free year-round. The arabica coffee cultivated here is rich but not bitter, fragrant but not intense, with small, uniform beans, rich mellow aroma, and a hint of fruitiness.

Simao, located in the upper reaches of the Lancang River, is known for its steep terrain and is one of China's famous Pu'er tea producing areas. At the same time, Simao is also China's largest coffee growing region in terms of area. The coffee cultivation area covers about 150,000 mu, with an output capacity of 22,500 tons. The Simao region has elevations between 1,000-2,000 meters, predominantly mountainous and sloped terrain, with many dry-hot river valleys and barren mountains. The fertile soil, abundant sunshine, plentiful rainfall, and significant temperature differences between day and night make it extremely suitable for coffee growth.

Due to its unique geographical environment and climate conditions, Yunnan coffee has developed a distinctive flavor that is rich but not bitter, fragrant but not intense, with a hint of fruitiness. Coffee quality is determined by various factors including growing environment, climate, and cultivation management techniques. Its optimal growing environment requires low latitude, high altitude, sufficient rainfall, and appropriate sunshine. However, other regions in this zone such as Hawaii, USA, and Saudi Arabia either have low elevations or are deserts with little rainfall. Only Simao in Yunnan, situated in this zone, happens to possess all the suitable conditions, thus creating the unique mellow and fragrant taste of Simao coffee.

"So, is the Yunnan coffee that we look down upon actually good?"

Look at the beans: 1. The variety is Typica (although 95% of Yunnan coffee are hybrid varieties of Robusta, such as Catimor, there is still some Typica), 2. High altitude (excluding Baoshan's Lujiangba area and some parts of Pu'er), 3. Clear processing method - it will taste good.

What Does a Pure Bloodline Washed Yunnan Typica at 1250 Altitude Taste Like?

FrontStreet Coffee Domestic Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee's house-roasted domestic coffee beans—FrontStreet Coffee Yunnan Arabica Typica Coffee—offer full guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they offer extremely high value, with each 227-gram package priced at only around 69 yuan. Calculating at 15 grams of coffee beans per cup, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, with each cup costing only about 5 yuan. Compared to the dozens of yuan per cup price at coffee shops, this is a conscientious recommendation, suitable for coffee enthusiasts interested in Yunnan coffee to purchase and try.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans, while also providing online shop services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473