Understanding Yellow Bourbon: The Differences Between Yellow and Red Bourbon Go Beyond Color

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FrontStreet Coffee - Bourbon Variety Introduction

Bourbon coffee originates from a natural mutation of the Typica coffee variety and is also a historic variety. Both varieties belong to the Arabica species. Typical Bourbon coffee primarily changes from green fruits to mature bright red fruits, which we know as Red Bourbon. The fruits are relatively short and round, also called Round Bourbon. The pulp and seeds have high density, with high sweetness and bright acidity. However, besides Red Bourbon, there are actually Yellow Bourbon and the rare Orange Bourbon and precious Pink Bourbon.

Red Bourbon

Why is Bourbon specifically named Red Bourbon when it's just Bourbon?

In fact, the original Bourbon coffee tree, after flowering and fruiting, shows fruit color changes from green to light yellow, gradually turning to light orange, and finally reaching mature red and deep red stages. Therefore, to distinguish it from other Bourbon varieties (Pink Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, etc.), it is specifically called Red Bourbon. Bourbon is recommended to grow at altitudes above 1200 meters, where its flavor profile will significantly surpass Bourbon beans grown below 1000 meters.

Both Bourbon and Typica are listed as ancient and excellent varieties, but Bourbon has more vigorous growth vitality and better resistance to leaf rust disease than Typica, while its flavor is in no way inferior to Typica. The biggest commonality between Bourbon and Typica is that they both require shade trees to block sunlight for favorable growth and flavor development. However, if the following conditions are met, open-sun cultivation can be adopted: annual average temperature between 18-24 degrees Celsius, plantation facing northeast or east, with only six hours of daily sunlight.

Yellow Bourbon

Yellow Bourbon (Bourbon Amarello) is a unique Bourbon variant from São Paulo, Brazil. It's mainly named Yellow Bourbon because the fruits don't turn red when mature but instead present an orange-yellow color. When Yellow Bourbon is grown in high-altitude areas, it exhibits excellent flavor performance. It once dominated Brazil's "Cup of Excellence" competition for two consecutive years, with almost all top three prizes being won by Yellow Bourbon, creating a sensation in the specialty coffee industry. Yellow Bourbon typically features nutty and chocolate notes, with balanced and smooth acidity, weak and clean bitterness, presenting an overall bright and refreshing profile.

Knowledge Point

These two ancient varieties, Typica and Bourbon, have propagated in the New World's different soils and waters for three hundred years, creating thousands of variants and hybrid varieties.

In summary: FrontStreet Coffee is a specialty coffee research hall, happy to share coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation just to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Every month, we hold three coffee promotions with low discounts because FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends enjoy the best coffee at the lowest prices - this has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for the past 6 years!

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