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Are Asian Coffee Growing Regions Characterized by Rich Body? Which Type of Yunnan Coffee is Best?

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 public account: cafe_style). FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Asian Coffee Origins. Since coffee was introduced to Asia, it has shown its rich and mellow characteristics. Asian coffee beans have a dense texture with a substantial thickness, featuring strong and rounded sweetness. In comparison, their aroma and acidity appear more reserved. However, that bold feeling has always been...

Introduction to Asian Coffee Origins by FrontStreet Coffee

Since coffee was introduced to Asia, it has shown its profound and stable characteristics. Asian coffee beans have a dense texture with a strong, rich body and rounded sweetness. In comparison, their aroma and acidity appear more reserved. However, an exuberant sensation has never been the strength of Asian beans. What Asian beans emphasize is a vast and robust mouthfeel like the base of a pyramid—a rich aroma that you can sense even before tasting the coffee.

Because Asian beans are mostly processed using washed and semi-washed methods, the raw beans are generally uniform in size. Some raw beans processed by the semi-washed method appear darker in color than those processed by other methods. In fact, high-quality Asian beans can also exhibit standard-quality fragrance and gentle fruity acidity when lightly roasted. Generally known, countries in the Asian region such as Indonesia, Yemen, India, Vietnam, and Papua New Guinea all produce specialty coffees.

Yunnan Region (China Yunnan)

China's mainland coffee cultivation is most famous in Yunnan and has been exported to foreign countries. Yunnan coffee originated in 1892, when a French missionary began planting it in the valley area of Binchuan County. To this day, dozens of old coffee trees still exist in Zhukula Township, Binchuan County, with trees reaching up to 90 years of age, still flowering and bearing fruit.

Today, Yunnan coffee uses the washed method, and the cultivation areas are gradually expanding, including Dehong, Xishuangbanna, Simao, Yuxi, and Baoshan. Production has also significantly increased, gradually gaining attention in the international market. Among them, the Simao area mainly plants "Arabica" and "Catimor" varieties, with most products returned to Nestlé Company; Baoshan's Lujiangba primarily grows "Typica" and "Bourbon" varieties, with mellow flavors that can qualify as specialty coffee.

Indonesia

Well-known representative coffees: Java, Sumatra Mandheling

Indonesia's coffee bean production areas are mainly on the three islands of Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi, all of which have volcanic terrain. It is generally believed that Indonesian coffee beans have a rich fragrance and low acidity, with a slight hint of herbal medicine and earthy flavors. The Mandheling produced in the mountainous regions of Sumatra is world-renowned for its rich texture. Top-grade Mandheling has an extremely clean taste when lightly roasted, with rich acidity and sweetness; when dark roasted, it has an extremely deep texture and rich mouthfeel.

India

Well-known representative coffee: Monsooned Malabar

Indian coffee has a very mild flavor, with both intensity and acidity being very low, and it carries some spice notes. The earthy flavors common to Asian beans are, of course, not absent. Indian beans are typically used in Espresso blends. In fact, Indian beans taste similar to Sulawesi or Sumatra beans, just not as thick-bodied. Indian coffee is not very popular in the international market, with its main market being domestic. Sun-processed Indian beans are called Cherry, washed Arabica beans are called Plantation Arabica, and washed Robusta is called Parchment Robusta. Additionally, rainy season beans and aged beans increase the viscosity of the coffee's mouthfeel and black chocolate flavor, especially for aged beans.

About FrontStreet Coffee

In summary: FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research center that enjoys sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation simply to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Moreover, we hold three coffee promotion events with low discounts every month because FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends enjoy the best coffee at the lowest possible price. This has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for the past six years!