The Story of Starbucks Phoenix Dance Coffee: Characteristics of Yunnan Coffee Beans and Small Bean Coffee Flavors

Yunnan: China's Premier Coffee Growing Region

As China's largest coffee-growing region today, Yunnan has drawn the attention of major coffee companies including Starbucks and Nestlé, both of which recognized its enormous potential early on.

Historical Legacy

The history traces back to 1892, when the French missionary Father Tian Deneng planted the first coffee tree in Zhukula Village, Binchuan County, Dali - an event generally regarded as the earliest record of coffee's introduction to Yunnan. For the 100 years that followed, coffee did not truly flourish here; only when multinational companies entered Yunnan in the late 1980s was this foreign crop replanted at scale and exported worldwide.

Coffee Characteristics

Region: Asia and Pacific growing region

Process: Washed (wet), semi-washed

Flavor: Herbal notes

Acidity: Low

Body: Medium

Phoenix Dance Coffee Blend

The Phoenix Dance coffee bean was first launched in 2009 to celebrate Starbucks' 10th anniversary in the mainland Chinese market, and it was also the company's first blend to contain coffee from mainland China. The blend combines Asian/Pacific beans with Yunnan coffee.

The Yunnan component comes from the Baoshan region of Yunnan Province, grown at an altitude of roughly 1200-1400 meters. Because annual precipitation is only about 800mm, growers rely on supplementary irrigation.

Yunnan sits at the foothills of the Himalayas, with snow-capped peaks, deep canyons, and lush tropical lowlands, making it China's most biodiverse province in plant species, birds, and mammals (including Asian elephants and tigers).

Brewing Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee recommends water at 89-90°C with a three-stage extraction, though you can also try the large-flow brewing style commonly used by Starbucks.

Symbolic Design

The packaging of the Phoenix Dance bean depicts a phoenix against a backdrop of mountains and deep canyons. Within China's symbolic tradition, the phoenix embodies perfectionism. Research suggests the phoenix is a divine creature of "harmony," symbolizing the ancient Chinese understanding of, respect for, and reverence toward the creatures of nature, and representing virtue and prosperity.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

If the low-acid, herbal character of Yunnan coffee appeals to you, FrontStreet Coffee's own Yunnan lineup goes a step further. The FrontStreet Yunnan small-bean coffee from Baoshan - washed and medium-roasted - shows soft nut and chocolate sweetness with a light plum acidity at an everyday price, while the FrontStreet 2013 Yunnan natural Typica, grown on FrontStreet's estate from fully ripe sun-dried cherries, layers dark berries, caramel, chocolate, dried apricot, and a black tea finish. For espresso, the FrontStreet Dark Cocoa Blend - Yunnan small-bean plus Brazil Cerrado - delivers nutty, brown-sugar sweetness and a smooth almond-cream latte, all with beautifully balanced acidity and bitterness.