Do you grow coffee in Laos? What are the main varieties of coffee grown in Laos? Characteristics of Laos Coffee

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Coffee Story in Laos

In Laos, coffee is grown almost entirely on the Brawan plateau of Bassai province in the south of the country; there is ample rainfall, cool temperatures and rich volcanic soil, more than 1300 meters above sea level, reaching 15 degrees latitude, there are perfect conditions for growing world-class coffee. Arabica coffee beans grown from the plateau are medium-bodied and combine aromas with citrus and floral aromas.

The communities that grow coffee in Laos include about 20,000 peasant families, 250 villages and several larger growing companies. Many minority communities and most peasant families earn their income from the harvest of coffee.

In 1915, France first planted coffee trees from Laos (a former French colony), but failed. In another coffee plant in 1917, Arabica and Robusta coffee trees were planted from the botanical garden in Saigon and a village in the northern part of his plateau, but failed again due to lack of care.

France finally succeeded in planting coffee trees in Laos in 1930, with an annual coffee harvest of 5000 tons. Twenty years later, most of the coffee trees on the plateau died of Frosts Descent and orange rust. Annual production fell to less than 1500 tons, so farmers began to plant disease-resistant robusta coffee trees to replace most Arabica bushes.

After the resumption of coffee production, but then as a result of the war, annual production fell again from 7000 tons to 3000 tons. With the end of the war and the relocation of many families, productivity on the plateau soared and coffee production resumed.

At present, the annual output of coffee in Laos is about 15-20000 tons, of which 80% is Robusta. Over the past 20 years, development agencies and the Lao Government have encouraged farmers to grow Arabica coffee trees on the plateau because their prices are about twice that of Robusta; as a result of this efforts, farmers' incomes have gradually increased.

Coffee is Laos's fifth largest export. The Boloven Plateau (Bolaven Plateau), located in the south, is the largest coffee growing area in the country, where about 95 per cent of Lao coffee is produced. The planting area is located at 15 degrees north latitude, from 600 to 1300 meters above sea level, covering an area of more than 500square kilometers, with abundant sunshine and Rain Water, cool temperature and slightly acidic fertile volcanic soil, which is a very good planting condition and has the potential to produce a large number of high-quality Arabica beans. Laos coffee is mellow with mild citrus and floral aromas.

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