How Coffee Entered the Chinese Market

You’ve probably heard that coffee is huge in China now—but when did it actually get there? And how did a drink that started as a stomach remedy in the Arabian desert become a global phenomenon, including in a country with a deep tea tradition? If you’ve ever wondered how coffee took root in China, this timeline explains everything from its religious roots to its European café culture and eventual arrival in the East.

Coffee first appeared in Arabic records around the 11th century, initially consumed as a boiled, dried coffee cherry drink for digestion. By the 13th century, roasted beans were used to make a stimulating brew that replaced alcohol under Islamic law. It spread to Europe by the 16th century and reached China only in recent decades, making its way into the market alongside globalisation and urbanisation.

The Origins of Coffee: From Stomach Remedy to Stimulant

Coffee’s story begins in the early 11th century, with the earliest mentions found in Arabic texts. Originally, green (unroasted) coffee cherries were dried, boiled, and drunk as a medicinal tonic for digestive issues. Over time, people discovered its stimulating effects. Since Islamic law prohibited alcohol, roasted and brewed coffee became a popular alternative, functioning much like an energising drink. It wasn’t until the 13th century that people began roasting the beans before brewing, marking the true birth of coffee as we know it.

How Coffee Spread Across the Middle East and Into Europe

From its origins, coffee spread outward from the Arabian Peninsula. Centered around Mecca, it was adopted by Muslim communities and carried to Egypt, Syria, Iran, and Turkey. The preparation method involved drying the raw beans, roasting them, crushing with a pestle, boiling in water, and drinking only the clear liquid once the grounds settled. By the 16th century, this ‘Arabian wine’ arrived in Europe via Venetian and Marseille ports. Italian merchants helped popularise coffee drinking in Venice, where the first European coffeehouse, Bottega del Caffè, opened. Drinking coffee became a social activity among the educated and upper classes.

Coffee Culture in Europe: Salons, Protests, and the Birth of Espresso

In 17th-century England, coffeehouses—initially male-only spaces—became hubs for political, literary, and business discussions. So popular were they that in 1674, a group of women protested and petitioned to shut them down. In France, after the Turkish ambassador introduced coffee to King Louis XIV in 1669, it gained favour among the aristocracy. Parisian coffee salons became centres of philosophy, literature, and art, hosting figures like Voltaire and Rousseau. Italy saw the emergence of espresso in the 19th century, revolutionising coffee preparation and further fuelling its mass appeal. These cultural moments helped cement coffee not just as a beverage, but as a social institution.

Global Expansion: How Coffee Reached the Tropics

The global cultivation of coffee began in earnest in the 13th century. By the early 18th century, French naval officer Gabriel de Clieu transported a coffee seedling aboard his ship, watering it with his own drinking supply. He planted it on the island of Martinique, a French territory, which became a launching point for coffee’s spread through the Caribbean and Central America. Coffee cultivation expanded rapidly across the tropics, taking root in regions with ideal growing conditions, and eventually making its way to global markets.

When Did Coffee Arrive in China?

While coffee drinking became commonplace in the West over centuries, it only emerged as a trend in China in recent decades. Historical records indicate that coffee was not widely known or consumed in China until the modern era. Today, as urbanisation and global influences grow, coffee is becoming increasingly popular in Chinese cities, though it still follows tea as the traditional daily beverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was coffee first consumed in the Arab world?

Coffee was first mentioned in Arabic records around the 11th century. Initially, green coffee cherries were boiled and consumed as a digestive aid. By the 13th century, people began roasting the beans, leading to the development of coffee as a stimulating drink consumed widely across Islamic regions.

How did coffee spread to Europe?

Coffee entered Europe in the 16th century via Venetian and Marseille ports, referred to then as ‘Arabian wine’. It gained popularity in Italy during the 17th century, with Venice opening the first European coffeehouse, Bottega del Caffè. French aristocrats adopted it after an introduction by the Turkish ambassador in 1669, and coffee salons became central to Parisian intellectual life.

What role did Italy play in coffee’s global history?

Italy was instrumental in evolving coffee culture, particularly with the invention of espresso in the 19th century. This method transformed how coffee was brewed and consumed, contributing to its widespread popularity and laying the foundation for modern café culture.

When did coffee reach the tropical regions where it’s grown today?

Coffee cultivation began spreading in the 13th century. By the early 18th century, a French officer brought a coffee seedling to Martinique, from where it spread throughout the Caribbean and Central America. Cultivation expanded globally to tropical zones with suitable climates for coffee farming.

When did coffee become popular in China?

Coffee has only recently gained popularity in China, emerging as a trend within the past few decades. While historically not a part of traditional Chinese culture, urbanisation and global influences have led to increased consumption, especially in metropolitan areas.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee Beans for Coffee History Fans

Explore the origins of coffee with FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera, a bright Ethiopian single origin with notes of citrus, blueberry, and floral tones—perfect for experiencing coffee’s fruity roots. For a classic taste of third-wave favourites, try their Panama Humbera, offering honey, jasmine, and tropical fruit flavours. Both beans showcase the diversity and global journey of coffee today. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.