How Pu'er’s Manlaojiang Coffee Built an International Brand

In a global coffee market obsessed with origin stories and traceable quality, Yunnan’s Manlaojiang Coffee stands out—not just for growing beans near latitude 22°N, but for transforming from a bulk supplier into a roaster with international brand ambitions. But how did a once raw-material exporter earn praise from the founder of the Specialty Coffee Association of America? The answer lies in their soil, their farmers, and ten years refining both beans and business.

Manlaojiang Coffee now produces around 800 tons of green beans annually, half of which are sold raw—but the other half are roasted in-house under their own brand, aiming for global specialty markets. Their journey shows how origin-driven processing, not just farming, builds a coffee brand.

Near the Equator, High in the Hills

The company is named after the nearby Manlao River. ‘The area benefits from low latitude, mid-elevation, and high forest cover—ideal for coffee,’ a company representative explained. On a 150,000-mu (about 10,000 hectares) plantation, 14,000 mu (933 hectares) are dedicated to coffee cultivation. These trees are tended by over 3,000 farming households, many relocated from Nujiang. Organized into 16 production teams, the farms yielded 800 tons of green beans last year.

From Raw Exporter to Roaster-Brand

Originally, Manlaojiang sold only green coffee. ‘But to maximize returns, we invested in roasting and branding,’ the rep noted. While half the crop remains green bean sales, the other half is now roasted and sold under the Manlaojiang brand—adding value that can reach up to 10× through roasting and packaging.

Why Their Green Beans Are in Demand

‘Customers book our green beans a full year in advance,’ the company stated. That demand stems from strict quality control rooted in ecology. Only 5.6% of the 150,000-mu land is used for coffee, with 94.24% left undeveloped—including vast tracts of pristine rainforest. The remaining 0.16% is for other uses.

Farmers receive 10 mu (0.67 hectares) each and collaborate with the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences for organic training. The process demands patience: from applying organic fertilizers and intercropping, to natural pest control, soil care, and teaching farmers to grade beans and meet green/organic standards. Every bean is hand-picked, mechanically sorted, and sun-dried with twice-hourly turning.

The Organic Certification Milestone

In 2011, Manlaojiang became the first Chinese coffee farm to earn full Chinese organic certification—and the first to hold both EU and USDA organic credentials. This ensures traceability from farm to cup at specialty-grade levels.

Global Recognition and Market Shift

Ted Lingle, founder of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, visited twice and endorsed their beans. Today, Manlaojiang partners with premium US green bean buyers, placing Yunnan coffee alongside traditional origins like Kenya in the international specialty market. As a result, the company plans to further reduce raw bean sales and focus on their branded roast profiles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Manlaojiang Coffee grown?

Manlaojiang Coffee is grown near the Manlao River in Pu’er, Yunnan, within a 14,000-mu (933-hectare) area of a larger 150,000-mu (10,000-hectare) plantation. The region lies at low latitude and mid-elevation with high forest cover, ideal for coffee cultivation.

How much coffee does Manlaojiang produce annually?

Manlaojiang produces approximately 800 tons of green coffee beans each year. Of this, around half is sold as raw green beans, while the other half is roasted in-house under their own brand for the specialty market.

What makes Manlaojiang’s green beans so sought after?

Their green beans are in high demand because they are pre-booked a full year in advance. This is due to strict quality practices, including limited cultivation on only 5.6% of their land, preservation of 94.24% as undeveloped forest, and organic farming methods developed with the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences.

Has Manlaojiang received any international certifications?

Yes, Manlaojiang was the first Chinese coffee producer to achieve full Chinese organic certification in 2011. They also hold both EU and USDA organic certifications, ensuring traceable, specialty-grade coffee from farm to cup.

Who has recognized Manlaojiang Coffee?

Ted Lingle, the founder of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, visited Manlaojiang twice and endorsed their coffee. This recognition helped the company establish partnerships with premium US green bean buyers, elevating Yunnan coffee to international specialty status.

Is Manlaojiang reducing its green bean sales?

Yes, Manlaojiang plans to gradually reduce the proportion of green beans sold raw and focus more on producing and selling their own branded specialty roasted coffee, aiming for greater brand presence in international markets.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Pour-Over

For fans of Manlaojiang’s origin-driven approach, try FrontStreet’s BrazilBourbon for its round, medium-bodied profile with sweet notes of caramel and mild acidity—ideal for exploring how terroir shapes flavor. Also consider ColombiaSidra, a fruit-forward Sidra with complex notes of tropical fruit and floral sweetness from double anaerobic fermentation. Both beans showcase the kind of care in processing that helped put Yunnan on the specialty map. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.