Yunnan Zhugula, the birthplace of Chinese coffee

The Origin of Coffee in China-- Secret Land Jugula

This is a distant place, but also a story that has been spread for a long time. "Zhu Kula" Yi meaning: tortuous mountain road.

In the deep mountains in the west of Binchuan County, Yunnan Province, there is a little-known Yi shanzhai-Zhu Kula, which has existed quietly and full of vitality for hundreds of years in the deep gorge of Baizhang River, a tributary of the Jinsha River. So far, the simplicity is still the same.

Around the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, a man surnamed Qi and a woman surnamed Li met in this legend for some unknown reason. They live in sheds leaning on mountains and water; they sleep at night and reproduce; men plow and women weave, and they pick fishing and hunting. Up to now, there are 84 families and 378 people in the village, all of whom are surnamed Qi and Li.

The surrounding area of the village is covered with large coffee forests and fruit trees, and the green vegetable fields and terraced fields on the periphery of the shanzhai decorate the small mountain village like a paradise. Looking at Zhu Kula in the haze, he loomed. It takes several hours to trek around the mountain and water to reach this quiet ancient cottage. Walking into the village of Zhukula, the air is always filled with the unique fragrance of brewing coffee. The hospitality of the villagers here is very special. if every household comes to a guest from afar, they will treat them to a cup of homemade coffee.

It is said that in 1892, the French missionary Father Tian Deneng, sent by the Catholic Church, went from Kunming to Binchuan County to preach Zhu Kula, built a church there, and introduced the habit of drinking coffee to Zhu Kula village at the same time. He personally planted a coffee forest and taught local villagers to grow, drink and sell coffee. From then on, the local villagers began to have the habit of growing, grinding and drinking coffee, which continues to this day.

At present, there are still 1134 ancient coffee trees in the village, covering a total area of 13 mu. Two of the oldest coffee trees are protected next to an ancient castle and still bear fruit.

Castle, church, stone painting, ruins, cactus, ancient coffee forest. The picture roughly shows the vicissitudes of Zhu Kula in the secret world.