China Banka Yunnan

China Banka Yunnan Limited Release

We are delighted to share with you this special release coffee from the Yunnan region of China to celebrate Chinese New Year!

Over 97% of Chinese coffee is grown in Yunnan, with the region producing roughly 2.3 million bags a year. Chinese coffee in, general, has never been seen as high-quality but with more microlots being produced and steep improvements in infrastructure, it seems this notion is at a turning point.

The sole variety grown in Yunnan is Catimor, a hybrid of Caturra and Timor varieties with some genetic roots to the Robusta species of coffee. Robusta is generally known for its resistance to disease and a harsh climate but is of a much lower quality than Arabica.

This genetic link means Catimor’s are very resistant to coffee leaf rust, which is a problem in China and can still produce comparatively high yields.

In general, Catimor’s are not often as sweet as other varietals as they grow extremely quickly, which doesn’t give the sugars in the cherries enough timeto develop. However, with the cold nights in Yunnan, the cherries growth is slowed to the point that these sugars can develop, so a Chinese Catimor is unique in its sweetness and quality.

This coffee was brought to our attention by importers IndoChina, who work to bring specialty Southeast Asian coffees to the market. We are only too happy to support their journey for better infrastructure and high-quality coffee!