The Forgotten Birthplace of Bourbon Coffee: Réunion Island

Réunion Island—once known as Bourbon—isn’t on most coffee lovers’ radar. Tucked in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa and a French overseas region since 1982, it’s better known for receiving the world’s highest daily rainfall: 1,870 mm in a single day. But long before its weather records, Réunion played a defining role in global coffee history, planting the seeds of what we now call Bourbon coffee.

So where did Bourbon coffee come from—and why should you care about a tiny island that barely grows coffee anymore? The short answer: because the very name 'Bourbon' originated here, after just two surviving coffee trees from Yemen were planted in 1715, sparking a coffee lineage that still influences global coffee flavors today.

The Origins of Bourbon Coffee

In 1715, around 40 coffee trees were shipped from the Yemeni port of Mocha to Île Bourbon—today’s Réunion Island. Only two survived the journey, but they thrived in the island’s tropical climate. By roughly 1719, the first coffee plantation took root. The local government pushed hard for coffee cultivation: laws required every resident, regardless of race, to plant 100 coffee trees annually by 1719, later raised to 200 by 1723. Damaging a coffee tree carried the death penalty. These extreme measures helped the crop flourish—and the coffee produced became globally known as 'Bourbon coffee.'

Why 'Bourbon'? The Island That Named a Coffee Variety

Réunion Island was called Bourbon during its time as a French colony. When the coffee grown here made its way back to the mainland and abroad, traders and growers referred to it as 'Bourbon coffee' due to its geographic origin. This is the same Bourbon variety that went on to become one of the two foundational Arabica cultivars—alongside Typica—that spread worldwide. Though originally high-quality, its relatively low yield eventually led to its decline in commercial favor.

Yes, the very word 'Bourbon' in coffee doesn't refer to Kentucky whiskey or French royalty—it refers to this remote Indian Ocean island that forced its citizens to plant coffee trees under threat of death.

From Thriving Plantations to Near Extinction

Bourbon coffee, known for its superior cup quality compared to other early Arabica strains, was widely cultivated on Réunion. The trees produced tightly packed, relatively high-yield branches (about 30% more than Typica) with rounder, denser beans. Yet over time, the very traits that made Bourbon desirable—rich flavor, balanced acidity—couldn’t compete with the demands for high volume and disease resistance in the modern coffee supply chain. As global demand shifted toward quantity, the slow-growing, fragile, and lower-yielding Bourbon trees gradually disappeared from commercial plantations, including those on Réunion itself.

Today, Réunion produces almost no coffee. The island’s coffee legacy lives on only through the surviving descendants of its original Bourbon trees—varieties like Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, and Pink Bourbon—that are cultivated in places like Brazil, Rwanda, and Hawaii.

Bourbon’s Legacy Around the World

While you can no longer sip coffee grown on Réunion, the Bourbon variety—and its genetic offspring—are still widely grown and cherished by specialty roasters. These include:

• Red Bourbon: Known for bright acidity and complex fruit notes. The beans turn from green to red as they ripen, and are often associated with wine-like qualities. It’s Brazil’s most widely grown Bourbon variant.
• Yellow Bourbon: A natural mutation with orange-yellow fruits at maturity. Grown at high altitudes, it offers a cleaner, sweeter profile with notes of caramel and nuts. Often showcased in medium to dark roasts.
• Rwanda Red Bourbon: Makes up over 90% of Rwanda’s coffee genetic base. Grown at 1,700–2,000 meters in volcanic soil, it delivers vibrant acidity, citrus, and floral tones. Best enjoyed with a lighter roast to preserve its fruity character.

All of these trace their lineage back to those two surviving coffee trees that landed on Réunion in the early 18th century.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Réunion Island and why is it important to coffee history?

Réunion Island is a French territory in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. It was formerly called Bourbon during French colonial rule. It's historically significant because it's where the first Bourbon coffee trees outside Yemen were planted in 1715, leading to the global spread of the Bourbon coffee variety.

How did Bourbon coffee get its name?

Bourbon coffee is named after Île Bourbon (now Réunion Island), where the coffee variety was first cultivated outside Yemen in the early 18th century. The name stuck as the coffee spread to mainland France and beyond, becoming one of the foundational Arabica varieties worldwide.

What happened to coffee production on Réunion Island?

Coffee production on Réunion Island declined drastically and is now nearly nonexistent. The island stopped being a major coffee grower due to shifting global coffee demand favoring higher yields over quality, along with the island’s challenging terrain and economic priorities.

What are the main types of Bourbon coffee varieties today?

The main Bourbon varieties today include Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, and Pink Bourbon. Each has unique characteristics—Red Bourbon offers bright acidity, Yellow Bourbon provides a sweeter, cleaner cup, and Pink Bourbon is rare with distinctive floral complexity.

Are any of the original Bourbon trees from Réunion still around?

No, the original two coffee trees from Yemen that were planted on Réunion in 1715 are long gone. However, their descendants—modern Bourbon-type varieties like Red and Yellow Bourbon—are still grown in countries such as Brazil, Rwanda, and Hawaii.

Why did Bourbon coffee lose popularity in the coffee industry?

Bourbon coffee lost popularity because it has lower yields and is more susceptible to disease compared to other varieties like Robusta or even some hybrid Arabicas. Modern coffee production prioritized volume and resilience, pushing out high-quality but lower-yielding strains like Bourbon.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans with Bourbon Heritage

Though Réunion no longer grows coffee, you can explore its legacy through Bourbon-related varieties. FrontStreet Coffee’s Brazil Queen Manor highlights Yellow Bourbon grown at 1,400 meters, offering a bright, clean cup with notes of caramel, peanut brittle, and almond. For red fruit lovers, their Brazil Sidamo-inspired red Bourbon shows chocolatey depth with creamy and sweet tones. Rwanda Red Bourbon, though not listed directly, shares the same genetic lineage—look for similar profiles in other African single origins. All showcase the enduring influence of Réunion’s original Bourbon trees. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.