Where Does Reunion Island Coffee Come From?

Ever wondered where the first global wave of commercial coffee really began? Most people point to Yemen, but few know that the very trees that helped spread coffee across oceans started with just four dozen seedlings shipped to a tiny French colony in the Indian Ocean in 1715. Only two survived—but those two changed coffee history.

Today, we’re diving into the near-forgotten coffee origin of Réunion Island (formerly called Bourbon Island), where the first Arabica trees outside Arabia took root—and gave the world the coffee variety still known as ‘Bourbon.’

The Origins of Coffee in Réunion

In 1715, around 40 coffee trees from Yemen’s Port of Mocha arrived on Réunion Island. Tragically, only two survived the journey. By 1719, those survivors had grown into a small but thriving coffee plantation, and the island exported its first commercial coffee crop. Just a few years later, in an effort to boost production, the colonial government imposed a strict mandate: every resident, regardless of race, had to plant 100 coffee trees annually. Then, in 1723, the law grew even harsher—enslaved people were required to plant 200 Mocha coffee trees per year, and anyone caught damaging a coffee tree faced the death penalty.

At the time, Réunion was a French colony known as Bourbon Island. The coffee grown there became known as ‘Bourbon coffee,’ and the Arabica variety itself inherited the name. This is the same Bourbon variety that spread across the globe—but on Réunion, it’s almost completely disappeared today.

What Makes Bourbon Coffee Distinct?

Bourbon coffee, which originated on Réunion, differs in several key ways from typical Arabica. Though technically still within the Arabica species, the trees that flourished on the island developed unique traits. Over time, these ‘Bourbon-type’ Arabica plants were cultivated worldwide and became highly regarded for their cup quality. However, on Réunion itself, coffee cultivation has all but vanished.

The coffee produced on the island came to be known simply as ‘Bourbon coffee.’ It typically exhibited the following characteristics:

• Flavor: Rich and well-balanced
• Recommended Roast Level: Medium to dark
• Quality Rating: ★★ (Good)

Why Isn’t Bourbon Coffee Grown on Réunion Anymore?

Although Réunion (Bourbon Island) was once a major producer of this historic coffee variety, today almost no coffee is grown on the island at all. The unique small-sized beans it produced set it apart from other Arabicas, and over time, the Bourbon coffee plant evolved into a distinct variety that spread globally—yet locally, cultivation ceased. The reasons for this decline likely include economic shifts, colonial changes, and the challenges of maintaining small-scale coffee farming on a remote island.

Today, while ‘Bourbon’ coffee thrives in places like Brazil, Rwanda, and Colombia, its birthplace no longer cultivates it. The few remaining traces of Réunion’s coffee legacy survive mainly in historical records and the global spread of the Bourbon coffee variety itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bourbon coffee and where did it come from?

Bourbon coffee is a variety of Arabica that originated on Réunion Island (then called Bourbon Island) in the early 18th century. It descended from just two coffee trees that survived shipment from Yemen’s Mocha Port in 1715. These trees adapted to the island and became the foundation of the ‘Bourbon’ variety, which was later planted worldwide.

Why was coffee cultivation mandatory in Réunion?

In the early 1700s, the French colonial government in Réunion (Bourbon Island) made coffee planting mandatory to boost production. All residents had to plant 100 coffee trees per year, and by 1723, enslaved individuals were required to plant 200 Mocha coffee trees annually. Destruction of coffee trees was punishable by death.

What does Bourbon coffee taste like?

Bourbon coffee is known for its rich, well-balanced flavor profile. It is typically recommended for medium to dark roasting, and historically has been rated as having good cup quality (★★).

Is Bourbon coffee still grown on Réunion Island?

No, coffee is almost no longer grown on Réunion Island today. Although it was once a significant origin for the Bourbon variety, local production has ceased, and the island no longer cultivates coffee commercially.

What makes Bourbon coffee different from other Arabica?

Bourbon coffee is a variety of Arabica that developed unique traits on Réunion Island. Though it belongs to the same species, it has distinct growth characteristics, cup qualities, and historical significance. It later spread globally and influenced many modern Arabica cultivars.

Where else can you find Bourbon coffee today?

While no longer grown on Réunion, Bourbon coffee is widely cultivated in countries like Brazil, Rwanda, Colombia, and Ethiopia. Variants such as Red Bourbon, Yellow Bourbon, and Pink Bourbon are especially valued in specialty coffee.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans Related to Bourbon

Though Réunion no longer grows coffee, the Bourbon variety thrives elsewhere. Try FrontStreet’s Brazil Queen Manor (Yellow Bourbon), offering balanced sweetness with caramel, peanut, and chocolate notes in a medium-dark roast. For brighter acidity, FrontStreet’s Rwanda Red Bourbon highlights citrus and floral tones with juicy acidity, roasted medium-light to preserve clarity. Both showcase how Bourbon genetics express differently across origins. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.