Where Bourbon Arabica Coffee Originated: Réunion Island

When you hear ‘Bourbon coffee,’ you might think of Madagascar or Brazil—but the story starts much further south, on a tiny volcanic island in the Indian Ocean. Réunion, once known as Bourbon Island, is where the first Bourbon Arabica coffee trees outside Yemen took root. But today? There’s barely any coffee grown there at all. What happened to the birthplace of one of the world’s most influential coffee varieties?

The first coffee trees arrived in Réunion (then Bourbon) from Yemen’s Port of Mocha in 1715—about 40 in total—but only two survived. By 1719, coffee plantations were already producing and selling beans, and the island became the original home of what we now call Bourbon coffee.

The Origins of Bourbon Coffee on Bourbon Island

Réunion was a French colony in the early 1700s, and it was here that the very first Arabian coffee plants from Yemen were introduced to the African continent. In 1715, around 40 coffee seedlings were shipped from Mocha, Yemen, to what was then called Bourbon Island. Tragically, only two of those original plants survived the journey and the acclimatisation process. By 1719, however, those survivors had given rise to the island’s first thriving coffee plantations, and the first commercial coffee harvests were sold.

The French government soon made coffee cultivation mandatory. A law passed in the early years required all residents—regardless of race—to plant 100 coffee trees annually. By 1723, this rule was made even stricter: all enslaved people on the island were ordered to plant 200 Mocha coffee trees per year. The penalty for damaging a coffee tree? Death.

Why Bourbon Coffee Thrived—Then Vanished from Its Birthplace

The coffee grown on Bourbon Island during the 18th century was derived from the original Yemeni Mocha stock. Over time, the plants acclimatised and began to develop distinct characteristics. This local adaptation eventually became known globally as the ‘Bourbon’ variety—named after the island’s colonial name.

Despite giving rise to a coffee variety that would go on to influence global cultivation, Réunion itself stopped producing coffee almost entirely. Today, the island that gave Bourbon coffee its name no longer grows significant amounts of the variety. The strict historical cultivation laws faded, economic priorities shifted, and other crops took precedence. The unique environmental conditions that once supported early Bourbon cultivation have largely been repurposed or abandoned for different agricultural models.

Bourbon Coffee: What It Is and How It Spread

Bourbon is one of the oldest Arabica coffee varieties, originating from the same genetic lineage as Typica. It was first cultivated in significant numbers outside Ethiopia and Yemen on Bourbon Island. The trees are known for broader leaves, denser growth, and about 30% higher yields than Typica. The beans are typically rounder and shorter, often exhibiting medium acidity and a susceptibility to disease.

Bourbon coffee produces red fruit (known as Red Bourbon), but there are also yellow and pink-tinged variants due to genetic mutations. These include Yellow Bourbon and Pink Bourbon, each bringing slight variations in cup profile. The red-fruited version tends to produce wines, florals, and brighter acidity, while yellow mutations may lean towards sweeter, cleaner profiles.

Global Legacy of Réunion’s Bourbon Coffee

Although coffee is no longer a major crop on Réunion, the Bourbon variety spread across the globe thanks to the island’s early role as a cultivator. From Africa to Latin America, Bourbon became a cornerstone variety for many specialty origins. Its genetic contribution is still evident in numerous modern cultivars, and its historical significance is preserved in coffee lineage records.

The fact that the world’s first Bourbon coffee trees took root in Réunion—and helped launch a globally significant coffee variety—is a fascinating footnote in coffee history. Yet the island that gave it its colonial name produces almost no Bourbon coffee today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did Bourbon coffee originally come from?

Bourbon coffee originated from Yemeni Mocha stock, but the variety as we know it today was first established and cultivated on Bourbon Island (now Réunion) in the early 18th century, beginning with 40 seedlings shipped from Mocha in 1715—of which only two survived.

Why is it called Bourbon coffee?

It’s named after Bourbon Island, the former name of Réunion Island when it was a French colony. The coffee variety developed there from the original Yemeni imports became known as ‘Bourbon’ after the island.

Does Réunion still grow coffee today?

No. Although Réunion was the birthplace of Bourbon coffee, the island no longer cultivates significant amounts of coffee. Historical laws requiring mass planting faded, and coffee production was eventually abandoned in favour of other agricultural activities.

What are the characteristics of Bourbon coffee?

Bourbon coffee typically has medium acidity, a rounded bean shape, and higher yields than Typica. It’s susceptible to disease but produces flavours ranging from floral and wine-like (in red variants) to sweet and clean (in yellow mutations). It forms the genetic base for many modern Arabica varieties.

What’s the difference between Red Bourbon and Yellow Bourbon?

Red Bourbon refers to coffee cherries that ripen to a deep red colour, often yielding more complex, winey, and acidic cups. Yellow Bourbon cherries turn orange-yellow when ripe and generally produce a sweeter, cleaner, and softer profile. Both originated as mutations from the original Bourbon variety.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Exploring Bourbon Profiles

For a modern taste of Bourbon-type flavours, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Brazil Queen Manor (Yellow Bourbon), offering clean, sweet notes of caramel, peanut brittle, and chocolate with a mild acidity and milk-friendly balance when dark roasted. Or explore Rwanda Red Bourbon, grown at high altitudes with bright acidity, citrus, and floral tones in lighter roasts. For Brazilian nuttiness and chocolate depth with a touch of berry, FrontStreet’s Brazil Sidelva Red Bourbon (not listed but representative of the style) would also fit—though from our current selection, the Queen Manor and Rwandan offerings best showcase what modern Bourbon genetics can deliver. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.