When Was Coffee First Planted in Zhukula, China?

Published: Oct 17, 2026 Author: World Gafei Last Updated: Oct/17/2026 237 views

Research confirms that coffee was introduced to Zhukula, Yunnan, in 1904—not 1892—as widely claimed. Here’s the verified timeline.

Ask any specialty coffee enthusiast about the origins of coffee in China, and chances are you’ll hear the name ‘Zhukula.’ Nestled in Yunnan at 1,400 meters above sea level and 26°N latitude, this remote village is often cited as the birthplace—or at least an early hub—of coffee cultivation in the country. But there’s fierce debate over when coffee first arrived there: was it 1892, as some media claimed in 2008, or another year entirely? And who really planted those first trees?

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