Worried About Cocaine in Domestic Coffee? Yunnan and Asian Coffee Association Issue Joint Statement!

Recently, Nestlé's factory in Switzerland reported that white powder of unknown origin had been found in a container of coffee beans shipped from Brazil. According to a statement from local police after investigation and testing, the white powder was identified as 80% pure cocaine. The entire search operation was carried out in an isolation zone set up at the factory. Nestlé later issued an email statement declaring: "The coffee beans involved in this incident did not come into contact with any products or production equipment within the factory. We assure consumers that products produced at Nestlé's Swiss factory are safe to consume."

Despite the official statement, concerns arose among domestic consumers. On May 9, the Asian Coffee Association and the Yunnan Province Coffee Industry Association jointly issued the following statement:

The Asian Coffee Association believes that coffee industry organizations, enterprises, and practitioners across Asian countries must uphold strict safety standards in the circulation and production processing of coffee raw materials. Cocaine is a globally recognized controlled substance, and global coffee companies, Nestlé included, should guarantee the quality and safety of their products, with responsibility being paramount.

The Yunnan Province Coffee Industry Association believes that more than 95% of coffee cultivation in China takes place in Yunnan. As a domestic coffee raw material supply base, Yunnan must strengthen industry self-regulation, diligently conduct safety inspections at every stage of the coffee industry chain, and let consumers enjoy their coffee with peace of mind.

Joint Call to Action

The Asian Coffee Association and the Yunnan Province Coffee Industry Association jointly appeal to China's food safety supervision departments to conduct specialized testing on terminal products in the Chinese coffee market to determine "whether cocaine is present in coffee products," so that all consumers can enjoy a cup of safe, healthy coffee.

Source: China Economic Times - China Economic Network

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Yunnan is where most of China's coffee is grown, and its beans deserve attention on their own merit. FrontStreet's Yunnan Small Bean comes from Baoshan, is washed and medium roasted, and shows the region's traditional soft nut and chocolate notes with a light plum acidity, gentle and balanced, and easy on the wallet.

If you want a clearer, more evolved expression of the region, FrontStreet's 2013 Sun-Dried Typica is grown at 1,300 meters from an old Arabica variety. The natural process gives it more body and a brighter sweet-and-sour balance, with dark berry character, caramel sweetness, chocolate, and a hint of dried apricot, finishing with a black tea aftertaste. Both are excellent ways to taste what Yunnan can do.