Mangshi International Coffee Festival Showcases 'Kiss First' Coffee

When global coffee professionals gather in a small Chinese city, it’s usually for business—but in Mangshi, Yunnan, it was also about tradition. At the 4th China Mangshi (International) Coffee Culture Festival, held on January 24, over 300 attendees from more than 20 countries didn’t just talk trade: they experienced ‘Kiss First’ coffee, a local brew with roots in ancient village processing methods.

The festival spotlighted ‘Kiss First’ coffee—a unique Yunnan brew made through traditional techniques including hand de-pulping, sun-drying, stone mortar grinding, and chicken fat roasting—as its central offering. Attendees visited the Hougu 1st Coffee Estate for live tastings and farm experiences.

What Is the Kiss First Coffee Tradition?

‘Kiss First’ coffee isn’t just a brand—it’s a reconstructed version of an old village ritual. In the past, when coffee cherries turned red like cherries, young people would pluck them and use their mouths to remove the skins. The beans, still in their husks, were then sun-dried. Later, they were pounded with stone mortars, sifted with winnowing baskets, and the best beans were selected. These were roasted with chicken fat, ground with stone mills, and shared as a precious drink among families.

Where the Festival Took Place

The 4th edition of the Mangshi (International) Coffee Culture Festival opened in Mangshi, known as the ‘Coffee Homeland of China’ in Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan Province. The event featured exhibitions, the ‘Hougu Coffee Journey’ experience line, and the official launch of the ‘Hougu Coffee Journey’ with a ceremonial crystal ball activation. Attendees explored coffee cultivation and processing firsthand at the Hougu 1st Coffee Estate.

Why This Festival Matters for China’s Coffee Industry

This festival wasn’t just a local gathering. Organized by the China-ASEAN Coffee Cooperation Committee, China Coffee Engineering Research Center, and Yunnan Coffee Industry Association, and hosted by Dehong Hougu Coffee Co., Ltd., it brought together coffee professionals from Germany, Russia, Japan, Korea, and more than 10 Chinese provinces. The goal: to promote Chinese coffee globally and foster collaboration in planting, processing, trade, and research.

Yunnan’s Role in Global Coffee Production

Yunnan has grown into one of the world’s major coffee-producing regions. As of the latest data, the province has over 1.6 million mu (about 106,667 hectares) of coffee plantations. The current harvest season is expected to yield over 120,000 metric tons of coffee. Within Yunnan, Dehong is a key production hub, and local leader Hougu Coffee plans to add a new 20,000-ton coffee production line—set to be Asia’s largest instant coffee facility—by the end of 2016.

The ‘Hougu Coffee Journey’ Experience

To engage both trade and consumers, Hougu Coffee has developed a first-of-its-kind integrated tourism route in China. The ‘Hougu Coffee Journey’ combines coffee picking, eco-tourism, factory tours of advanced coffee processing, and shopping—all in one experience. This allows visitors to see the journey from cherry to cup while supporting local agriculture and craftsmanship.

What Happened at the International Coffee Business Forum?

The festival included an International Coffee Business Forum where industry leaders discussed trends, challenges, and opportunities in the global coffee trade. The forum served as a platform for networking, learning, and strategic dialogue aimed at advancing the Chinese coffee sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ‘Kiss First’ coffee?

‘Kiss First’ coffee is a traditional Yunnan coffee style that re-creates an old village method: coffee cherries are hand-depulped with the mouth, sun-dried with husks on, then processed through pounding, sifting, chicken fat roasting, and stone grinding. It’s a cultural and artisanal coffee experience unique to the region.

Where is Mangshi, and why is it important for coffee?

Mangshi is located in Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. It’s known as the ‘Coffee Homeland of China’ and is a major center for coffee production in the country, hosting major events like the International Coffee Culture Festival and home to leading producers such as Hougu Coffee.

How much coffee does Yunnan produce?

Yunnan has over 1.6 million mu of coffee plantations and produces over 120,000 metric tons of coffee in a typical harvest season, making it one of the world’s significant coffee-growing regions.

What is the ‘Hougu Coffee Journey’?

The ‘Hougu Coffee Journey’ is an integrated tourism and coffee experience route in China that includes coffee cherry picking, eco-tours, factory visits to coffee processing plants, and shopping. It’s the first route in China to combine all these elements in one seamless visitor experience.

Who attended the 4th Mangshi Coffee Culture Festival?

The festival attracted over 300 coffee professionals from more than 20 countries, including Germany, Russia, Japan, and Korea, as well as representatives from over 10 Chinese provinces. Organizers included major national and regional coffee industry bodies.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Exploring Yunnan Coffee

For those intrigued by Yunnan’s coffee heritage after the Mangshi festival, FrontStreet Coffee offers several excellent options. Their Yunnan Arabica is a washed-process coffee with balanced acidity and caramel sweetness, highlighting the terroir of the region. For a more traditional profile, try the 2013 Yunnan Typica, a naturally processed coffee with bold fruitiness, citrus, berry notes, and a winey aroma. Both beans showcase the unique characteristics of Yunnan-grown Arabica. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.