Where Did Réunion’s Historic Bourbon Coffee Go?

When coffee lovers hear "Bourbon," they usually think of the revered Arabica variety known for sweet, balanced cups. But few realize that the very first Bourbon coffee trees outside Yemen were planted not in Brazil—but on a small volcanic island in the Indian Ocean. That island was Réunion, then called Bourbon Island. So what happened to the coffee that gave the Bourbon variety its name?

Today, Réunion produces almost no coffee at all. Despite being the birthplace of globally influential Bourbon coffee, the island’s once-thriving coffee industry collapsed due to harsh colonial laws, slave labor demands, and eventual economic shifts—leaving its legendary coffee legacy alive only in descendant varieties worldwide.

The Origins of Bourbon Coffee on Réunion

In 1715, the French East India Company shipped around 40 coffee seedlings from the Yemeni port of Mocha to the French colony of Bourbon Island (today’s Réunion). Tragically, only two survived the journey. By 1719, those two trees had given rise to the island’s first coffee plantations, and the first commercial harvests followed soon after. What began as a tiny agricultural experiment would become the origin point of a coffee variety that would change the world.

A Colony Under Cultivation

In the years following the successful harvest, the colonial government imposed draconian agricultural policies. A 1719 law mandated that all residents—regardless of race—plant 100 coffee trees annually. By 1723, the rules grew even more extreme: enslaved people were forced to plant 200 Mocha-derived coffee trees per year, under penalty of death for anyone caught damaging the trees. These brutal policies turned the entire island into a forced labor coffee farm. The coffee produced here was exported across the French colonial empire, and the trees themselves became foundational stock for global cultivation.

Why Réunion No Longer Grows Coffee

Despite its pivotal role in spreading what we now call Bourbon coffee, Réunion eventually abandoned coffee production almost entirely. Over time, changing economic priorities, the decline of the colonial plantation system, and the challenges of competing with larger coffee-growing regions led to the near-total disappearance of coffee farming on the island. Today, Réunion is known more for its sugar and rum than for coffee. The Bourbon coffee trees that once thrived under coercion are virtually extinct on the island that gave them their name.

The Global Legacy of Bourbon Coffee

Although coffee is no longer grown on Réunion, the Bourbon variety spread far beyond the island. Descendants of those original two surviving trees were cultivated across the tropics, eventually giving rise to well-known mutations like Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, and Pink Bourbon. These varieties became cornerstones of specialty coffee production in countries like Brazil, Rwanda, and Colombia. Notably, Red Bourbon is widely grown in Brazil and offers bright acidity with notes reminiscent of wine, while Yellow Bourbon, a mutation discovered in Brazil’s highlands, is celebrated for its clean, sweet profile. Rwanda also relies heavily on Bourbon lineage varieties grown at high altitudes, contributing to its reputation for vibrant, complex coffees.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bourbon coffee and where did it originate?

Bourbon coffee is a variety of Arabica that originated from coffee trees brought from Yemen’s Mocha port. The first Bourbon trees outside Yemen were planted on Réunion Island (then called Bourbon Island) in 1715, with just two of the original 40 seedlings surviving. This makes Réunion the original home of what became the globally cultivated Bourbon variety.

Why did Réunion stop growing coffee?

Réunion stopped growing coffee due to a mix of economic shifts, the end of its colonial plantation economy, and competition from other coffee-growing regions. Over time, coffee farming became unviable on the island, leading to its near-complete disappearance by the modern era.

What happened to the original Bourbon coffee trees on Réunion?

The original Bourbon coffee trees on Réunion nearly vanished. While they formed the basis for global Bourbon cultivation, the variety is no longer grown on the island itself. Today, almost no coffee is produced in Réunion at all.

Are there any coffee varieties that come from Réunion’s Bourbon trees?

Yes. The coffee trees originally planted on Réunion gave rise to the Bourbon variety, which later mutated into well-known types like Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, and Pink Bourbon. These are now cultivated in countries like Brazil, Rwanda, and Colombia, forming the genetic base of many specialty coffees.

Did slavery play a role in Réunion’s coffee history?

Yes. In the early 1700s, enslaved people were forcibly made to plant 200 coffee trees per year under penalty of death. These labor practices were central to the island’s coffee production during the colonial period and contributed to the global spread of the Bourbon variety.

Is there any coffee production left on Réunion today?

No. Today, Réunion produces almost no coffee. The island’s coffee industry collapsed in the 19th and 20th centuries, and it is now known for other agricultural products like sugar and rum.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans Related to Bourbon Varieties

Though Réunion no longer grows coffee, you can explore its legacy through Bourbon-related varieties. FrontStreet Coffee’s Brazil Queen Manor (Yellow Bourbon) offers balanced sweetness with caramel and peanut notes, medium-dark roasted for smooth body. Their Rwanda Red Bourbon highlights vibrant acidity with citrus and floral tones, medium-light roasted to preserve clarity. For Brazilian nuttiness, try BrazilBourbon (Red Bourbon), roasted medium with chocolate and bread notes. All are excellent examples of Bourbon-lineage coffees. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.