Discover the Secrets of Yunnan Green Coffee: A Coffee Excellence
The Origin of Yunnan's Name
Yunnan is a province which is located in southwest China. In Chinese,” Yun” means clouds(云), and” Nan” means south（南）->Yunnan=云南.
There are several different theories about the origin of Yunnan's name. The name "Yunnan" likely comes from the "colorful Yunnan Present theory." This theory says that during Emperor Wudi's reign, colorful clouds appeared in the south. Emperor Wudi was born in 156 B.C. and died in 87 B.C. The name is not only poetic but also reflects the unique natural landscape and cultural characteristics of the Yunnan region.
Some more details about Yuanan
Geographical location: Yunnan is located on the southwest border of China, between 97°31 'to 106°11' east longitude and 21°8 'to 29°15' north latitude.
Neighboring countries: Yunnan borders Myanmar in the west and Laos and Vietnam in the south, making it an important gateway to Southeast Asia and South Asia.
Terrain features: Yunnan is one of the highest provinces in China with complex and diverse terrain, mainly plateaux and mountains. The terrain is high in the northwest and low in the southeast.
Climate characteristics: Yunnan has diverse climate types, mainly subtropical plateau monsoon climate, with the characteristics of "spring all year round", mild climate, and abundant rainfall.
Because of its unique geographical location, rich natural resources, and diverse climatic types provide good conditions for good coffee beans. Yunnan is also located in the Coffee Growing Belt, also known as the "Coffee Belt" or "Coffee Zone", which refers to the tropical and subtropical regions located between the equator and 25 degrees north and south latitude. The climate conditions in this region are very suitable for the growth of coffee trees, because coffee trees are tropical plants, and need a warm and humid environment, the average annual temperature is usually above 20℃. The Coffee Belt covers many countries and regions, including South America, Central America, the West Indies, Asia, Africa, Arabia, the South Pacific, and Oceania.
The History of Yunnan Coffee
The first coffee plant 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.
Due to a partnership with Nestle Company, UNDP, and the Yunnan Provincial Government, about 7,800 acres of coffee were cultivated in Yunnan in 1997. The resources have also been devoted to ensuring that the coffee plant varietals and cultivation maintain a high standard and also to ensure that the coffee farmers are able to bring their products to an international market.
Starbucks to Bring Yunnan Coffee to the World
KUNMING, China, February 06, 2012 – As part of its ongoing efforts to help elevate the coffee industry in China’s Yunnan Province, Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ: SBUX) announced that it has signed an agreement to form a joint-venture company with Ai Ni Group, one of the province’s most established coffee operators and agricultural companies in Yunnan. The joint-venture company, which will be controlled by Starbucks, will purchase and export high-quality arabica Yunnan coffee beans, as well as operate dry mills in the province.
Starbucks purchases of Yunnan coffee have been increasing rapidly, and in early 2009 Starbucks introduced its Yunnan coffee Blend - a high quality Arabica coffee bean blend - in collaboration with Yunnan province.
Specialty Coffee of Yunnan - Started Late But Developed Rapidly.
The development of Yunnan's specialty coffee can be traced back to after 2014, when some companies began to purchase high-quality coffee from Yunnan at a price higher than futures, marking the beginning of Yunnan's specialty coffee.The list of specialty coffee estates in Yunnan is as follows:
Aini Coffee Estate
Tianyu Coffee Estate
Laizhuke Coffee Estate
Biton Coffee Estate
Zuoyuan Coffee Estate
Xinzhai Coffee Estate
Gaosheng Coffee Estate
Yijiayuan Coffee Estate
Lishu Coffee Estate
Rongkangda Coffee Estate
These specialty coffee estates have been recognized by the Yunnan Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. They aim to promote the specialty development of Yunnan's coffee industry, improve coffee quality, create a benchmark demonstration for industrial development, and promote Yunnan's specialty coffee brand to the world.