Which Tastes Better: Yunlu or Hougu Coffee? How Much is a Pack of Authentic Yunnan Arabica Coffee?

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Hougu Coffee — China's First Local Coffee Brand

Mr. Xiong Xiangren, the founder of Hougu Coffee, started with 6 mu of coffee land. After 30 years of persistence, he finally forged China's first local coffee brand. Speaking of his dream, he said: To become a world-renowned coffee enterprise, to become a world coffee giant, and to let Hougu represent China to tell the world: China also has good coffee!

Through efforts, Hougu Coffee became China's first local "China Famous Trademark" coffee brand in January 2013. From the perspective of enterprise development and brand growth, Hougu Coffee has gone through a long period of growth and has now become the first local coffee brand in China. Becoming a "China Famous Trademark" has always been Hougu Coffee's dream. Now, the first dream has been realized, which gives Hougu the strength to develop. However, compared with international coffee giants and internationally renowned coffee brands, the gap is still huge.

Quality Assessment

It can't be considered first-class yet. The producing areas are still facing issues such as variety improvement and processing method improvements. Previously, 80% of what was grown was supplied to Nestlé for instant coffee and Starbucks, so how good could it be? However, gradual improvements have been made in recent years. Otherwise, with the acquisition price too low and basic wages rising, no one would pick the coffee beans. Currently, it cannot be considered good, but the future can be expected.

Yunnan Coffee Characteristics

Yunnan coffee belongs to the small-grain coffee variety.

Due to its unique geographical environment and climate conditions, Yunnan coffee has formed a unique flavor that is rich but not bitter, fragrant but not strong, with a hint of fruitiness. World-class coffee experts have evaluated it as the best coffee in the world.

Its cultivation technology and yield per unit are also world-class. Coffee is rich in protein, fat, sucrose, as well as starch, caffeine, and other substances. When made into a beverage, it has a rich aroma, pleasant taste, and rich nutrition, thus becoming one of the world's three major beverages along with tea and cocoa, ranking at the top.

Yunnan coffee is a variant of the Arabica original species, formed through long-term cultivation and domestication. It is generally called Yunnan small-grain coffee. It is an evergreen small shrub with small kernels, thick peel, sweet flesh, and mellow products. It contains lower caffeine components, so it is also called mild coffee and is a major cultivated variety in the world.

Why is it Considered the Best Quality in the World?

Coffee quality is determined by various factors such as the growing environment, climate, and cultivation management techniques. Its optimal growing environment is low latitude, high altitude, sufficient rainfall, and appropriate sunlight. Therefore, the area between 15° north latitude and the Tropic of Cancer is the ideal growing zone for coffee.

However, other regions in this zone, such as Hawaii in the United States and Saudi Arabia, either have low altitude or are deserts with little rain, which are not conducive to coffee growth. Only southern Yunnan, located in this zone, happens to have all the necessary conditions. According to expert measurements, small-grain coffee should be planted on mountainous land at an altitude of 800-1800 meters. If the altitude is too high, the taste will be sour; if too low, it will be bitter. Most Yunnan coffee is planted in the dry-hot valley regions at around 1100 meters altitude, so the acidity is moderate, and the fragrance is rich and mellow.

In terms of climate conditions, southern Yunnan has long sunshine hours, which is beneficial for plant growth and photosynthesis. Moreover, the temperature difference between day and night is large, with low temperatures at night, which is conducive to the accumulation of coffee nutrients. Therefore, the effective nutritional components contained in Yunnan small-grain coffee are higher than those of other foreign coffee varieties.

Small-grain coffee is susceptible to rust disease, which significantly affects both yield and quality after infection. Due to the distinct dry and wet seasons in Yunnan's tropical regions, the annual fresh fruit ripening period正好 enters the dry season, with relatively low humidity, which is not conducive to the formation and growth of rust spores. Due to the excellent quality of Yunnan coffee, it entered the London market as "Lujiang No. 1" in the 1960s and was rated as a first-grade product. In recent years, world-renowned coffee companies such as Nestlé and Maxwell House have flocked to Yunnan to establish raw material bases, and products from Yunnan have gradually gained reputation at home and abroad.

International Recognition and Local Perception

I'm overseas and have never heard of anyone drinking Chinese coffee. China is not listed among the world's coffee-producing regions. The only coffee-producing place in China I've heard of is Hainan. Therefore, I've never heard of the claim that Yunnan coffee is first-class. If it were a first-class product, compared to international recognition, it should first be recognized by local people. I've also never heard that Yunnan people have a habit of drinking coffee.

Geographical location, climate, and soil - the small-grain coffee lives up to its reputation. It's much cheaper than Starbucks and tastes much better. Yunlu Coffee costs 25 yuan for 457 grams.

Yunnan Coffee Growing Region and Benefits

Yunnan coffee producing areas are distributed between 15° north latitude and the Tropic of Cancer, with most regions at an altitude of 1000-2000 meters. The terrain is mainly mountainous and sloped, with significant variations. The soil is fertile, with sufficient sunlight and abundant rainfall. The temperature difference between day and night is large. These unique natural conditions contribute to the special taste of Yunnan small-grain coffee: rich but not bitter, fragrant but not strong, with a slight fruity flavor.

Benefits of Yunnan Small-Grain Coffee

1. Yunnan small-grain coffee contains higher effective nutritional components than other foreign coffee varieties

2. Unique flavor with a slight fruit acidity

3. Rich coffee taste with high saturation and balanced fruit acidity

4. Can supplement vitamin B needed by the human body

5. Has certain anti-cancer effects

About FrontStreet Coffee

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse types of beans, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans. They also provide 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