The way of Coffee Development in Myanmar Coffee planting skills Coffee Bean Variety selection

Over the past few years, Myanmar's coffee industry has begun to emerge on the international stage through a partnership between the Myanmar Agriculture Extension Department, USAID, the Coffee Quality Association (CQI) and the country's hard-working coffee farmers. When the first coffee trees were introduced from Costa Rica by British missionaries nearly a century ago, the coffee industry in Burma was still a fledgling one, but today it has grown into a productive one. OGS works closely with Burmese specialty coffee producers and is committed to providing quality Burmese coffee beans to roasters who want to try out different or new regions.

Myanmar is geographically bordered by India, Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal to the west, China, Laos and Thailand to the east, the Himalayas to the north and the Andaman Sea to the south. Few countries can border such a culturally diverse neighbor.

A Brief History of Burmese Coffee

1885: British missionaries plant the first coffee in Burma

1936: Myanmar exports 95 tons of coffee

1952: S-795 coffee variety introduced to the outskirts of Binu Lun town in Mandalay District

1986: Government of Myanmar (GOM) promotes national coffee planting program and imports T8667 and Kaduai varieties from Costa Rica

2015: Myanmar hosted Myanmar's first national cup testing conference in Yangon with the assistance of SCAA, CQI, Winrock and USAID, which significantly improved the quality of coffee from cultivation to post-processing.

2016: Burmese coffee debuted at SCAA Coffee Conference in Atlanta, USA

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), northern Myanmar has the potential to produce maximum quantities of high-quality Arabica coffee due to its excellent lateritic plateaus and other soils above 1000 meters (3300 feet) above sea level suitable for growing coffee trees, as well as its evenly distributed rainfall of 1500 to 2500 centimeters (59 to 79 inches) and the distinct dry season necessary to grow coffee trees.

Myanmar coffee growing environment

Growing and producing high-quality coffee requires consideration of several important environmental factors, including altitude and temperature, rainfall and water supply, soil, aspect and slope.

altitude

Altitude affects several key environmental factors, so elevation should be considered first when determining the ideal coffee growing environment, in addition to temperature, rainfall and water supply, soil, aspect and slope.

Arabica coffee must be grown at altitudes above 1000 meters, and the quality of low-altitude Arabica coffee does not meet the requirements of the global market. Coffee plantations and microfarms in Myanmar are usually located at altitudes of 1100 to 2200 meters, while coffee is grown at altitudes of 2800 meters in remote areas such as Chin and Kachi.

temperature

Arabica prefers cool growing environments, with the most suitable daily average temperature between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius (68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit), while Pyin Oo Lwin averages 19.7 degrees Celsius (67.5 degrees Fahrenheit). Temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) may cause photosynthesis to stop, whereas average temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit) may inhibit growth and make coffee inferior. Arabica coffee is highly susceptible to frost, so trees must be used for shade to reduce possible damage.

Rainfall and water supply in Myanmar

The ideal rainfall for Arabica coffee cultivation is more than 1200 to 1500 cm (47 to 60 inches) per year, and rainfall totals and rainfall distribution patterns are equally important, while Pyin Oo Lwin has an annual rainfall of 1400 cm (55 inches).

shade tree

Silver oak trees are commonly used as shade trees in coffee plantations in Myanmar. In addition to blocking wind, silver oak trees also have many other important functions. When the climate is dry, the shade of silver oak protects young coffee trees from drought stress and excessive sun exposure, and shade allows coffee trees to achieve a better balance between flowering and growing fruit, and reduces frost damage. In addition, the defoliation and pruning of silver oak trees produce organic matter and nutrients that continuously provide the soil with a large number of micronutrients needed to maintain health.

varieties

Several coffee varieties have been planted and tested in Myanmar's major coffee growing areas. The main varieties currently planted include SL-34, S795, Catuai and T8667.

T8667

Country: Costa Rica

Growth Habits: Short

Cup quality: Good, with herbal and peel aromas

Note: Fruit and coffee beans are huge

S795

Country: India

Growth habits: tall, erect and open

Cup test quality: excellent performance in all aspects and with mocha flavor

Note: The fruit is huge.

kaduai

Country: Brazil, between Mundo Novo and Cadura

Growth habits: short, dwarf plants

Cup test quality: good coffee bean quality, good coffee bean size

Note: High yield plants

SL34

Country: Kenya (selected by the French Mission)

Growth habits: tall, erect and open

Cup quality: known for its sweet, balanced and complex acidity

Note: The fruit is huge.

About us

Most of Myanmar coffee growing areas are hilly and tribal environments, and people who work on coffee farms have lived and worked in this hilly environment for generations. They are therefore innately knowledgeable about the land in the area and know how to plant it to obtain the best productive results. Perhaps most Burmese people focus on big temples, and simple life keeps Burmese people cheerful and friendly.

Chemicals and pesticides

Burmese coffee is free of chemicals and pesticides. Farmers use natural fertilizers from cattle and chickens. They also focus on sustainable development of the land, especially in southern Shan State, where chemicals and pesticides are strictly prohibited.