Dehong Coffee: From China’s Hometown of Coffee to a Global Genetic Treasure Trove
In recent years, China has emerged as one of the world’s most important coffee-consuming and producing nations. Thanks to its exceptional natural conditions, strong industrial foundation, and robust research capabilities, Yunnan’s Dehong Prefecture has become one of the first coffee-growing regions in China. Known internationally for its “Dehong Coffee,” the region’s plantations are now full of ripe red cherries as the harvest season arrives once again. In Nongxian Village of Ruili—where small coffee beans were first introduced in 1893, marking the start of China’s century-long coffee history—a remarkable transformation is underway: from “the hometown of Chinese coffee” to a “genetic resource treasure trove.” 01 Fifteen Years of Scientific Perseverance: Building China’s Coffee “Chip Factory” As one of the earliest regions in Yunnan to cultivate coffee, Dehong’s coffee industry has a deep and rich legacy. The crop was first introduced in 1893 and began industrial development in...