What makes coffee from Thailand so special?
WE ARE SO GLAD YOU ASKED!
Coffee has been around for centuries. It originated in the Middle East, but in recent years coffee from Thailand has gained popularity for its quality due to the near perfect location and conditions for growing Arabica coffee.
HOW IT ALL STARTED & THE ROYAL PROJECT
After decades of conflict and oppression in Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, many people of Akha ethnic descent migrated into Northern Thailand where they made a living farming opium. In the 1970s, Thailand’s agricultural economy was reliant on rice and opium. While rice crops were used to feed the rural families who worked the farms, opium was exported and used as the main source of income for many families in Northern Thailand. Opium farming not only involves widespread deforestation, it was destroying lives. King Bhumibol of Thailand believed this illegal trade was not good for the country or the environment and wanted the tribal farmers of Northern Thailand to have a more reputable, profitable and sustainable crop to trade. This was the beginning of what is known as the Royal Project.
Nearly forty years later, Thailand is now one of the biggest producers of coffee in the world and the third biggest coffee producer in Asia. Although the Royal Project Foundation has helped to ensure the success of coffee in Thailand, it was no small feat to let go of the opium trade for a more sustainable crop. Thailand’s successful transition from the opium trade to coffee is now used as a case study for other developing countries that are struggling to escape reliance on dangerous industries.
OPTIMAL GROWING CONDITIONS
The mountains in Northern Thailand are an excellent location and environment for growing coffee. The Arabica plant thrives in areas of heavy rainfall and higher elevation. The soil absorbs the mountain rainwater, enriching it with minerals that create optimal growing conditions for coffee plants to thrive. The lower humidity and temperature of the Chiang Mai (Doi Mon Lan) mountain region also makes it a prime climate for growing coffee. Arabica coffee generally grows on a shorter tree, which means that most Arabica coffee in Thailand is shade grown. Shade grown coffee requires low amounts of fertilizers and causes minimal erosion. In addition, it doesn’t require farmers to clear cut their land.
COMPLEX TASTE
The Akha Hill Tribe farmers of Doi Mon Lan in Northern Thailand produce some of the most complex tasting coffee in the world. Shade grown coffee takes longer to mature than sun grown coffee, which allows more complex sugars to develop in the fruit. Due to the mineral content of the soil, the shifting climate of Thailand, and their propensity for full fermentation of the coffee cherries, Thai coffee is relatively unique in all the world. Layered with natural sweetness, accompanying acidity, and deep complexity, our Akha coffee has to be tasted to be believed.
GROWING POPULARITY
As you might imagine, this new, distinctive coffee taste quickly caught on, and not just in Northern Thailand but also throughout the country. The outside world soon caught wind of the phenomenon and just a few decades later Thailand coffee is now known as a delicious, exotic treat that delights many coffee lovers.
Thailand is one of the last undeveloped coffee regions in the world, but it is now one of the leading countries for coffee production. In fact, of the half a million 130+ pound bags of coffee beans that Thailand makes annually, 93 percent of it stays in Thailand. This means that only 7% of the highly desired coffee is exported annually and is sought after by coffee fans.
Coffee has been around for centuries. It originated in the Middle East, but in recent years coffee from Thailand has gained popularity for its quality due to the near perfect location and conditions for growing Arabica coffee.
HOW IT ALL STARTED & THE ROYAL PROJECT
After decades of conflict and oppression in Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, many people of Akha ethnic descent migrated into Northern Thailand where they made a living farming opium. In the 1970s, Thailand’s agricultural economy was reliant on rice and opium. While rice crops were used to feed the rural families who worked the farms, opium was exported and used as the main source of income for many families in Northern Thailand. Opium farming not only involves widespread deforestation, it was destroying lives. King Bhumibol of Thailand believed this illegal trade was not good for the country or the environment and wanted the tribal farmers of Northern Thailand to have a more reputable, profitable and sustainable crop to trade. This was the beginning of what is known as the Royal Project.
Nearly forty years later, Thailand is now one of the biggest producers of coffee in the world and the third biggest coffee producer in Asia. Although the Royal Project Foundation has helped to ensure the success of coffee in Thailand, it was no small feat to let go of the opium trade for a more sustainable crop. Thailand’s successful transition from the opium trade to coffee is now used as a case study for other developing countries that are struggling to escape reliance on dangerous industries.
OPTIMAL GROWING CONDITIONS
The mountains in Northern Thailand are an excellent location and environment for growing coffee. The Arabica plant thrives in areas of heavy rainfall and higher elevation. The soil absorbs the mountain rainwater, enriching it with minerals that create optimal growing conditions for coffee plants to thrive. The lower humidity and temperature of the Chiang Mai (Doi Mon Lan) mountain region also makes it a prime climate for growing coffee. Arabica coffee generally grows on a shorter tree, which means that most Arabica coffee in Thailand is shade grown. Shade grown coffee requires low amounts of fertilizers and causes minimal erosion. In addition, it doesn’t require farmers to clear cut their land.
COMPLEX TASTE
The Akha Hill Tribe farmers of Doi Mon Lan in Northern Thailand produce some of the most complex tasting coffee in the world. Shade grown coffee takes longer to mature than sun grown coffee, which allows more complex sugars to develop in the fruit. Due to the mineral content of the soil, the shifting climate of Thailand, and their propensity for full fermentation of the coffee cherries, Thai coffee is relatively unique in all the world. Layered with natural sweetness, accompanying acidity, and deep complexity, our Akha coffee has to be tasted to be believed.
GROWING POPULARITY
As you might imagine, this new, distinctive coffee taste quickly caught on, and not just in Northern Thailand but also throughout the country. The outside world soon caught wind of the phenomenon and just a few decades later Thailand coffee is now known as a delicious, exotic treat that delights many coffee lovers.
Thailand is one of the last undeveloped coffee regions in the world, but it is now one of the leading countries for coffee production. In fact, of the half a million 130+ pound bags of coffee beans that Thailand makes annually, 93 percent of it stays in Thailand. This means that only 7% of the highly desired coffee is exported annually and is sought after by coffee fans.