A Taste Journey to the Heart of Yunnan with China Kaku Coffee from JAVA.
Yunnan – Land of Mists, Mountains, and Arabica
Squeezed between Laos, Vietnam, and Burma, Yunnan looks like a butterfly's wing on the map. In reality, it’s more of a mountain mosaic—full of misty forests, steep valleys, and hidden stories. It’s where Buddhism meets Taoism, and green tea shares its place with the increasingly popular cup of coffee.
At first glance, this isn’t your classic coffee-growing region. But look deeper: 1400–1800 meters above sea level, fertile soils, monsoon rains, and dry seasons. For coffee—these conditions are nearly perfect. Especially for beans harvested by hand on small plots, away from large plantations, in harmony with the local rhythm of nature.
View of the China Kaku coffee plantation in Menglian County, Yunnan, China
Here, farmers head into the mountains with baskets on their backs before the rooster even crows. Coffee isn't just an industry for them—it's tradition, pride, and increasingly, a path to economic independence.
Menglian County – a small district in western Yunnan, bordering Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, with ideal climatic and geographical conditions for specialty coffee production—1300–1800 m altitude, fertile soils, distinct dry and wet seasons.
From Missions to Microlots: A Brief History of a Long Journey
When we say "coffee from China," many still raise their eyebrows. Yet the history of this arabica dates back to the 19th century, when French missionaries first introduced coffee seedlings to southern China. For a long time, nothing much happened—conditions were favorable, but infrastructure, interest, and a push were lacking. That push came in the 1980s, when the Chinese government, in partnership with the United Nations and one of the largest global coffee players (we won't name names, but it wasn't us!), decided it was time coffee got its chance. And that was a good decision.
Coffee bushes at the China Kaku plantation in Menglian County, Yunnan (southwest China)
Today, China not only exports coffee—it drinks more and more of it. According to USDA data, in the 2023/24 season, Chinese consumers will drink over 5 million bags of coffee. And the specialty coffee culture? It’s growing at a pace any European capital would envy. Specialty cafés are popping up in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Kunming faster than mushrooms after rain, often with designs that Berlin cafés would dream of. China Kaku comes from this wave—born from passion, ideal conditions, and the desire to prove to the world that Chinese coffee can taste exceptional. And it does.
The coffee-growing community in Menglian, Yunnan
China Kaku – A Journey Through Flavor (and Nose, and Palate)
So, let's get to the point. What's so special about this coffee that we can't stop talking about it? China Kaku is clean and refreshing. Its aroma brings notes that instantly transport you to mountainous Yunnan: jasmine flowers, green apple, and acacia honey. It's the scent of mornings on a terrace, where leaves still glisten with overnight dew, and the air smells of freshness. Its taste is light and refined: light-to-medium body, silky and transparent. Like tea, but with the heart of coffee.
And acidity? Citrus-like, precise, reminiscent of lime or ripe mandarin, freshly fallen from a tree. Brew it as drip coffee—you'll discover hints of green tea. Try it as espresso—floral notes appear alongside apricot and honey sweetness. This coffee doesn't force itself on you; it flirts. Sometimes subtly suggesting, other times disappearing and returning in a completely new guise. Aftertaste? Long and refreshing. Flowers. Apricot. Greenery. Something you feel not just on your tongue, but throughout your body...
If you haven’t yet closed your eyes... seriously, it's worth a try. Imagine: a morning in Yunnan. Mist gently drifts among the trees. Somewhere in the distance—a Tibetan gong, perhaps a rooster crowing. Your cup steaming. And suddenly—that first note: flowers, then apple, finally honey. You travel without tickets. Without passports. Without luggage...
At JAVA, we believe good coffee isn't just a beverage. It's a moment, an experience, a journey you can embark on without leaving your kitchen. China Kaku is exactly like that. And though it arrived from far away—it stays much longer.
