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Asian Coffee Origins: The Secrets of Yunnan's Eight Major Coffee Regions Hidden in the Clouds

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). FrontStreet Coffee - Yunnan Coffee Introduction. Yunnan's main coffee variety is Arabica, also known as small-bean coffee, commonly called Yunnan small-bean coffee domestically. Yunnan's excellent geographical and climatic conditions provide favorable conditions for coffee growth, with planting areas mainly in Lincang, Baoshan, Si

Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more information about coffee beans, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style).

FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Yunnan Coffee

The main coffee variety cultivated in Yunnan is Arabica, known as small-grain coffee, commonly referred to in China as Yunnan small-grain coffee. Yunnan's excellent geographical and climatic conditions provide favorable circumstances for coffee cultivation. The main growing areas include Lincang, Baoshan, Simao, Xishuangbanna, and Dehong prefectures. Yunnan's natural conditions are remarkably similar to Colombia's - characterized by low latitude, high altitude, and significant temperature differences between day and night. Quality analysis through cupping shows that the small-grain coffee produced here belongs to the mellow aromatic category, with quality and taste similar to Colombian coffee.

Dehong: Known as the "Hometown of Chinese Coffee"

As of 2011, the entire prefecture had developed 120,900 mu (approximately 8,060 hectares) of coffee plantations, accounting for 30% of China's total coffee cultivation area. In the next three years, Dehong's coffee planting area will reach 200,000 mu (approximately 13,333 hectares). Coffee cultivation in Dehong occurs at altitudes above 1,000 meters, with 30,000 mu (2,000 hectares) planted on mountainous areas above 1,600 meters. Additionally, Dehong coffee growers primarily use organic fertilizers and organic pesticides, resulting in high-quality coffee production, making it one of the world's rare premium coffee producing regions.

Baoshan: Rich Coffee Heritage

Coffee cultivation in Baoshan began in the mid-1950s, with the first coffee seedling introduced by the late patriotic overseas Chinese Mr. Liang Jinshan from Southeast Asia. The locally renowned Lujiangba small-grain coffee is of exceptional quality. As early as the late 1950s, it was rated as a first-grade product in London, UK. In recent years, with the expansion of international trade, Lujiangba's small-grain coffee has gained widespread fame. European, American, and Arab countries, particularly the UK, USA, Egypt, Hong Kong, and Macau merchants, consider it premium coffee, with demand exceeding supply. In December 2010, after review by China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, it was decided to implement national geographical indication product protection for "Baoshan Small-Grain Coffee."

Lincang: Emerging Coffee Focus

Lincang's unique geographical location and climatic conditions have made it a focus of attention for numerous coffee companies. High-quality coffee seedling bases of 200 mu and 100 mu have been established respectively in Mengding Town of Gengma Autonomous County and Xingfu Farm in Lincang city. Coffee cultivation has been carried out in Gengma, Zhenkang, Yunxian, Cangyuan, and Yongde areas.

Pu'er: Tea Town's Coffee Legacy

In Pu'er, known as a tea region, coffee cultivation has a 150-year history. In the early 1990s, Pu'er city began developing coffee as an advantageous key industry to adjust industrial structure and help farmers increase income. Coffee is cultivated in 54 towns across 9 counties and 1 district of Pu'er city.

Due to the lack of deep processing and market promotion, Yunnan coffee has low visibility, remaining relatively unknown despite its quality. It is believed that with the in-depth development of Yunnan's coffee industry, rising domestic coffee market demand, and efforts from government and businesses, Yunnan coffee will undoubtedly enter a new era of development.

In Summary

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