Fourth Chinese Mengzhou International Coffee Festival Highlights

When you think about the origins of Chinese coffee, especially Yunnan-grown beans, you might picture modern plantations and high-tech processing—but the story starts much earlier, in a remote village where coffee was first planted by a French missionary over a century ago. How did those early coffee-making methods shape today’s understanding of regional coffee heritage? The 4th Mengzhou International Coffee Festival offered a deep dive into that history and more.

Over 300 coffee professionals from more than 20 countries and 10 Chinese provinces gathered in Dehong Prefecture, known as China’s coffee hometown, for the 4th Mengzhou (International) Coffee Culture Festival held January 23–25. The event included an international business forum, a romantic “Backhu Coffee Journey” launch, and a mass performance reenacting the traditional coffee-making process known as “Kiss Coffee.”

The Origins of 'Kiss Coffee': Harvesting and Processing in Fugula

When discussing the roots of Chinese coffee, you can’t overlook Fugula, a small village in Binchuan, Dali, Yunnan. Over 100 years ago, French missionary Father Tian Deneng planted Yunnan’s first coffee tree here. By the time the trees bore fruit—bright red like cherries—local Yi villagers, without access to industrial tools, developed a unique manual process: picking ripe coffee cherries, removing the skins with their mouths, drying the beans, pounding them in stone mortars, sifting with winnowing baskets, roasting with chicken fat, and grinding with stone mills. The resulting coffee powder was reserved as a special drink for guests, often enjoyed with walnuts, meat, and wine. This centuries-old tradition continues in Fugula, now the only known village in China where nearly every household still drinks coffee daily.

Coffee lovers later dubbed this original processing method “Kiss Coffee,” referring to the intimate act of using the lips to remove the cherry skin. During the festival, a thousand young performers at the Backhu Coffee Estate reenacted the history and cultural significance of this traditional coffee-making ritual.

International Coffee Business Forum: Global Insights on Yunnan’s Coffee Future

The festival’s International Coffee Business Forum brought together delegates from Germany, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore, Shanghai, Sichuan, and beyond to discuss the development of Yunnan’s coffee sector. With over 1.6 million acres of coffee planted in Yunnan, the industry remains in a relatively early stage—farming, processing, trade, and branding all require further refinement.

Forum topics centered on strategies for growing China’s coffee market and improving consumption habits. Speakers shared insights on building a sustainable coffee culture, improving café operations, and increasing consumer awareness. Notably, Xiong Xiangren, president of the Yunnan Coffee Industry Association, emphasized the critical role of consumer education: “Guiding consumption is very important.”

Delegates also examined the real challenges facing China’s cafes today, including how best to promote coffee knowledge, improve shop survival rates, and foster a thriving coffee community. The exchange provided a platform for international and domestic voices to align on the future of coffee in China.

Kiss Coffee Performance: A Cultural Celebration

A highlight of the festival was the large-scale “Kiss Coffee” performance at the Backhu Coffee Estate No. 1. This event dramatized the traditional coffee journey—from cherry to cup—as practiced in Fugula. Young performers acted out the historical coffee-picking and processing methods, blending cultural storytelling with live demonstration. The romantic “Kiss Coffee Journey” was officially inaugurated with the unveiling of a crystal ball, symbolizing the festival’s blend of heritage and forward-looking industry dialogue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was the 4th Mengzhou International Coffee Festival held?

The 4th Mengzhou (International) Coffee Culture Festival took place in Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan Province, also known as China’s coffee hometown, from January 23 to 25, 2024.

How many people attended the festival?

Over 300 coffee professionals from more than 20 countries and regions and 10 Chinese provinces attended the 4th Mengzhou International Coffee Festival.

What is “Kiss Coffee”?

“Kiss Coffee” refers to the traditional coffee processing method originating in Fugula village, where Yi villagers historically picked ripe coffee cherries and removed the skins with their mouths before drying, roasting, and grinding the beans manually. This method is now celebrated as part of Yunnan’s coffee heritage.

What topics were discussed at the International Coffee Business Forum?

The forum focused on the future of China’s coffee industry, including strategies for improving coffee consumption, developing the café sector, enhancing coffee branding and trade, and sharing international perspectives from countries such as Germany, Laos, Vietnam, and Singapore.

What traditional coffee practice was reenacted during the festival?

A thousand youths performed a reenactment of the traditional Fugula coffee-making process, known as “Kiss Coffee,” highlighting its cultural and historical significance at the Backhu Coffee Estate during the festival.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Traditional Coffee Culture

Explore Yunnan’s coffee heritage with FrontStreet Coffee’s Yunnan Arabica, a bright and balanced single origin with notes of citrus, dark chocolate, and soft floral hints—perfect for appreciating the region’s terroir. For a deeper experience, try the FrontStreet Black Cocoa Blend, which layers cocoa, fig, and a hint of spice, echoing the roasted richness of traditional processing. Both beans reflect the craft and history discussed at the Mengzhou Coffee Festival. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.