Along the Lancang River at 24°N latitude, clusters of bright red coffee cherries hang heavy on branches amidst mist-shrouded red soil. This is Yunnan, China’s core coffee-growing region, accounting for 98% of the nation’s coffee cultivation area and production. From its first large-scale introduction in 1952 to today’s specialty beans fetching over 10,000 yuan per kilogram at auctions and exported to 29 countries and regions, Yunnan coffee has undergone a remarkable transformation over seven decades—evolving from a mere “raw material supplier” to a “national ambassador.” This journey is driven by the synergy of three forces: natural endowment, technological empowerment, and…
