Introduction to Chinese Coffee Growing Regions_Pricing of Domestic Coffee_Are Chinese Coffee Beans Expensive

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China's Domestic Coffee Growing Regions

China's domestic coffee growing regions are mainly located in Hainan, Yunnan, Guangdong, and Taiwan. The northern part of Hainan Island and the southern part of Yunnan Province are situated between 15°N latitude and the Tropic of Cancer. The coffee grown here is rich without being bitter, aromatic without being overpowering—truly unique. With a hint of fruitiness, it represents the finest quality coffee and has earned international acclaim.

Taiwan is located in the subtropical zone with mountainous terrain and distinct rainy seasons, creating favorable growing conditions for coffee. Since the British introduced coffee trees during the Guangxu period, small-scale cultivation continues. Notable growing regions include Huichang Farm in Nantou's mountainous area (over 1,000 meters above sea level) and Hebao Mountain in Yunlin's Gukeng (294 meters above sea level). The coffee flavor resembles that of Central and South American beans, with gentle acidity and excellent texture, offering a smooth taste profile.

Yunnan is China's primary coffee bean growing region. Located south of the Tropic of Cancer in a subtropical mountainous climate zone, Yunnan features characteristic 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. To this day, 24 coffee trees over 90 years old still grow in Zhukula Township, Binchuan County. In 1914, the Jingpo people in Ruili 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 their similar morphology and growth habits, these two varieties are often cultivated together. Bourbon's terminal buds and young leaves are green, earning it the name "green-topped coffee"; Typica's terminal leaves are reddish-bronze, known as "red-topped coffee."

After inspecting Yunnan's coffee cultivation and initial processing bases, tasting experts from the International Coffee Organization evaluated China's domestic Yunnan coffee beans as comparable to Colombian wet-processed Arabica coffee, ranking them 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 particularly outstanding.

Premium Growing Regions

The Lujiang Basin, a dry-hot valley in Baoshan, is known as the "tropical treasure house." The average temperature here is 21.5°C, reaching up to 40.4°C, with essentially no frost year-round. The Arabica coffee cultivated here is rich without being bitter, aromatic without being overpowering. The beans are small and uniform, with a mellow, intense fragrance and fruity notes.

Simao, located in the upper reaches of the Lancang River, is renowned for its steep terrain and is one of China's famous Pu'er tea producing areas. Simao is also China's largest coffee growing region in terms of cultivation area. The coffee growing area spans approximately 150,000 mu with an output of up to 22,500 tons. Simao's elevation ranges between 1,000-2,000 meters, dominated by mountainous and sloped terrain, featuring numerous dry-hot valleys and barren mountains. The fertile soil, abundant sunshine, plentiful rainfall, and significant temperature variations between day and night create ideal conditions for coffee growth.

Due to its unique geographical environment and climate conditions, Yunnan Simao coffee has developed a distinctive flavor profile: rich without being bitter, aromatic without being overpowering, with a hint of fruitiness. Coffee quality depends on various factors including growing environment, climate, and cultivation management techniques. Its optimal growing environment requires low latitude, high altitude, sufficient rainfall, and appropriate sunshine. While other regions in this zone such as Hawaii, USA, and Saudi Arabia either have low elevation or are deserts with little rainfall, only Yunnan Simao in this zone possesses all the suitable conditions, thus creating the unique mellow and fragrant taste of Simao coffee.

Recommended Domestic Coffee Bean Brands

FrontStreet Coffee's domestically roasted Yunnan Arabica Typica coffee beans offer excellent guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they provide exceptional value—at around 69 yuan per 227-gram package. Calculating at 15 grams of coffee beans per cup, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, costing only about 5 yuan per cup. Compared to café prices that often reach tens of yuan per cup, this represents excellent value for money.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small storefront but diverse bean varieties, offering both famous and lesser-known beans, along with online store 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