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    Home » Single Origin Coffee Beans » Indonesian Coffees » Coffee Beans from China

    Yunnan Coffee Beans

    Located in southern China, the province of Yunnan has been likened in climate to Colombia and Indonesia.

    Ample rains come from western and eastern river valleys, moist and warm air moves up from the lower elevations of the Bay of Bengal and Beibu Gulf, and the mountains to north protect the fragile coffee plants from temperatures that are too cold.

    Also see: The Top Ten Coffees in the World

    The History of Yunnan Coffee

    The first coffee plant s cultivated in Yunnan province came from seeds brought by a French missionary in 1892 and grown near the city of Binchuan in the mountain valleys of Yunnan. Today more than thirty varietals that continue to thrive can be traced back to these early plants.

    During the 1950s Yunnan was growing about 4,000 hectares of coffee but this decreased to around 270 hectares in the 1970s. Acreage returned to 1950s levels by 1988 due to a partnership with the Nestle Company, UNDP and the Yunnan Provincial Government. In 1997 about 7,800 acres of coffee were being cultivated in Yunnan.

    Resources have also been devoted to ensuring that the coffee plant varietals and cultivation maintains a high standard and also to ensure that the coffee farmers are able to bring their products to an international market.

    Yunnan Coffee - Starbucks Partners With Chinese Government

    In November of 2010 Starbucks and the Chinese Government announced a partnership investing in the Yunnan coffee industry totaling about US$450 million with the goals of expanding specialty coffee acreage and increasing the total volume of the output. Starbucks also said it would be opening a Farmer Support Center.

    Starbucks signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the People's Government of Pu'er City in Yunnan Province and the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Science.

    Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz attended the agreement signing ceremony with the two China government organizations and the collaboration seeks to assist local coffee farmers in developing high quality coffee with a focus on environmental stewardship, ethical sourcing and community involvement.

    Yunnan Coffee Improvement Efforts Include Coffee Farmer Support Center and Base Farm

    Along with the new Farmer Support Center investments are also being made in coffee processing facilities in Pu'er. Starbucks has previously opened Farmer Support Centers in Rwanda and Costa Rica.

    Starbucks will also operate a base farm and will supply agronomists and coffee quality experts to work directly with Yunnan coffee farmers to improve coffee quality and overall yield.

    Ongoing research will seek out coffee plant varietals that produce gourmet coffee beans while also being well adapted to the region including strong resistance to coffee plant diseases and pests.

    Coffees of Yunnan - Coffee Production Expansion Plans in Yunnan

    The goal of the provincial government of Yunnan is to increase the volume of green coffee beans (unroasted coffee beans) from less than 50,000 tons to 200,000 tons by 2020, while increasing total acreage planted in coffee to more than 100,000 hectares.

    Efforts are being made to improve soil quality to create more coffee plantations, improved coffee farmer training and research centers. Promising coffee enterprises will also be given subsidies. Currently more than 95% of China's coffee comes from Yunnan.

    Starbucks purchases of Yunnan coffee have been increasing rapidly, and in early 2009 Starbucks introduced its South of the Clouds Blend - a high quality Arabica coffee bean blend - in collaboration with Yunnan province.

    Thank You for Visiting Espresso Coffee Guide and Reading About Yunnan Coffee!  Savor Your Coffee and Espresso!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Catherine Newall

      February 24, 2013 at 3:15 pm

      I discovered Yunnan coffee last year while living in China. I got hooked on it and have had several lots brought back to UK by my daughter who works in Tianjin. However, I am saddened and alarmed to discover that Starbucks, a company I have boycotted for years, is involved with growing and production. I am sure that the farmers will lose out as a result of this. I wonder why it is not being fair traded.

      Reply
    2. Gigi Cheung

      January 02, 2013 at 12:16 am

      I am the overseas marketing executive in Yunnan Coffee, China. Office is in Toronto. Contact me if you need sourcing the Yunnan Coffee.
      [email protected]
      I then will give you my company official website (Chinese ONLY).

      Reply
    3. Lakhi

      December 17, 2012 at 8:18 am

      Nice resource.
      Any new info?
      Need contacts of reliable exporters of yunnan coffee beans.
      --
      I also deal in Ethiopian and Kenyan Arabicas.

      Reply
    4. Melody

      November 26, 2011 at 10:03 pm

      Hi, you have a ton of wonderful information on this website. Would you happen to have the original list of sources where you found your research? If you could point me in the right direction in terms of Yunnan coffee research, I would really appreciate it. I'm especially curious about the relationship between Starbucks and local coffee growers. Thanks!

      Reply
    5. Stéphane Langlois

      November 24, 2011 at 5:04 pm

      We will open a big coffee in Yunnan Dali and would like to sell only coffee from Yunnan.
      if you would like to give us some information on where to buy Yunnan coffee
      please infore me.
      Thank you for your information.

      Reply

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