How Many Varieties in Arabica You Never Knew - The Genetic Relationship Between Arabica and Typica

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FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Arabica Varieties

Arabica encompasses two to three thousand varieties, all derived from the most ancient Typica from Ethiopia (the birthplace of coffee) and Bourbon from Yemen, which were transplanted to Central and South America or Asia and continuously mutated and derived. The following mainly explains the major varieties under Arabica:

Ancient Native Varieties

1. Typica: The most ancient native variety from Ethiopia, characterized by elegant flavor, weak constitution, poor disease resistance, and low yield. Familiar varieties such as Indonesian Mandheling, Jamaican Blue Mountain, Cuban Maragogipe, Hawaiian Kona, Yunnan Small Bean, and Geisha are all derivatives of Typica. Typica beans are relatively large, appearing as pointed ovals or slender pointed shapes.

2. Bourbon: An ancient excellent variety on par with Typica, it is an early variant of Typica. It gained attention in 1715 when France transplanted round Yemen Mocha beans to Bourbon Island on the east coast of Africa. It shows obvious differences from Typica in bean shape, with Bourbon mainly consisting of round beans (except for the pointed Bourbon variety).

Genetic Mutations

1. Kenya SL28, SL34 (direct Bourbon lineage): Selected and bred by French and British missionaries and researchers in Kenya in the early 20th century, these are direct descendants of Bourbon. The special high-phosphorus soil nurtures unique aromatic compounds. Top-quality Kenyan beans all come from these two varieties, and they lose their distinctive flavor when transplanted to other continents.

2. Geisha: A variety that has gained popularity in recent years, belonging to the Typica family. In 1913, it was anonymously transplanted from Geisha Mountain in southwestern Ethiopia to Kenya, Tanzania, and Costa Rica. In the 1960s, it was辗转 transplanted to Panama, where after about half a century it suddenly gained fame, defeating regular champions like Bourbon, Caturra, Catuai, and Typica. In 2007, it sold for a high price of $130 per pound, ranking at the top of expensive specialty beans for several years.

3. Yellow Bourbon (Bourbon Amarello): Generally, coffee cherries mature to red, but Yellow Bourbon matures to yellow. It's a unique yellow-skinned Bourbon variety found in São Paulo state, Brazil. In recent years, Brazil's Cup of Excellence has almost been won by Yellow Bourbon.

4. Caturra: A single-gene mutation of Bourbon, discovered in Brazil in the 1950s. Its productivity and disease resistance are both stronger than Bourbon, with comparable flavor. It is suitable for cultivation at 700-1700 meters, with strong altitude adaptability, but yields decrease relatively when planted at high altitudes.

Knowledge Point: Mundo Novo: Belongs to the natural hybrid variety of Bourbon and Sumatran Typica, first discovered in Brazil. It was hailed as the new hope of Brazil's coffee industry, hence the name "New World" variety.

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