How are Bloodline Arabica Bourbon Coffee Beans? The Intricate Relationship Between Catuai and Bourbon

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FrontStreet Coffee - Catuai Variety Introduction

Bourbon

Like Typica, Bourbon is also native to Yemen, with its name derived from its original cultivation place, Bourbon Island. Bourbon coffee has higher yields than Typica coffee, with high sweetness and bright acidity. Most beans are red, but later orange and yellow varieties also emerged.

Catuai

Caturra is a genetic variant of Bourbon. Catuai's name is similar to Caturra's, as it is a hybrid of Caturra and Mundo Novo, so Catuai contains mixed genes from multiple sources. Catuai has very high sweetness and extremely strong adaptability - it doesn't drop its fruit in strong winds and heavy rain, making it known as one of the safest coffee varieties. It improves upon Mundo Novo's shortcomings while inheriting Caturra's advantage of low tree height, with smaller angles between lateral branches and main branches. It also compensates for Arabica's fragile fruit characteristic, producing solid fruits that don't fall easily in strong winds, making it popular in regions with high winds and rain. Catuai requires adequate fertilization and care. Its biggest regret is that its overall flavor is somewhat monotonous compared to Caturra.

In the 1950s and 1960s, it was discovered by Brazilian agricultural research institutions. Some say it first appeared in the late 1940s. The variety name Catuai comes from an indigenous language, meaning "very good." The fruits come in both red and yellow varieties. To date, no difference has been found where yellow fruits taste better than red fruits. On the contrary, some people have found in cupping that although coffee processed from some yellow fruits has good acidity, the cleanliness of the coffee taste is inferior to that of red fruits.

As a member of the Arabica family, Catuai has relatively high yields. Catuai can adapt well to various altitudes, showing even better cup quality when planted above 800m. Catuai is widely grown in Central and South American coffee regions, including Brazil. Catuai, Caturra, Mundo Novo, and Bourbon are known as Brazil's four main coffee varieties.

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