Decades-Old Devan Coffee Trees in Southern Taiwan

If you’ve ever wondered what makes certain Taiwanese coffees so memorable despite their low profile, the answer might be growing on 60-year-old trees in a quiet mountain village. Tucked away in southern Taiwan, Devan Village produces coffee that’s earned a devoted following—not through fame, but through flavor rooted in decades of terroir and tradition.

The key to Devan coffee’s unique taste lies in its 60-year-old trees grown at elevations between 800 and 1,200 meters. These trees, some dating back to Japanese colonial times, produce a rare and memorable cup that locals and a few international buyers still cherish today.

The Origins of Taiwanese Coffee

Taiwan’s coffee story began during the Japanese colonial period, when Japan introduced coffee cultivation to the island. Though coffee farming spread across several regions, it faded quickly after the Japanese left—many coffee trees were abandoned or cut down as demand disappeared. Yet in the mountainous village of Devan in Pingtung County’s Sedi Township, coffee cultivation quietly endured.

High-Altitude Terroir in Devan Village

Devan Village sits at an elevation between 800 and 1,200 meters in Taiwan’s southernmost county, Pingtung. The area, alongside neighboring Taiwu Township, forms one of the island’s key coffee-growing regions. Devan itself has become known for its “Devan coffee,” though it lacks the widespread recognition of other origins like Gukeng or Dongshan. Despite this, the village’s location offers near-perfect conditions for high-quality coffee: cool temperatures, stable rainfall, and rich volcanic soils at altitude.

Visitors to Devan may not find trendy cafés lining the streets, but they will see coffee trees lining the roadsides and covering the surrounding hillsides. The village is essentially a working coffee-growing community hidden in plain sight.

The Legacy of Old Coffee Trees

Some of Devan’s coffee trees are over six decades old, surviving from the Japanese era. According to local farmer Feng Shengcai, in addition to these historic trees, a push by former Sedi Township mayor Bao Shuisheng helped establish a foundation for the local coffee industry. Today, many of the trees are around 20 years old, and over 80% of the village’s residents grow coffee. These long-standing trees contribute to the distinct cup profile that locals and returning coffee drinkers remember fondly.

Traditional Coffee Preparation in Devan

Coffee wasn’t originally a drink for Taiwanese people during the colonial period—but that didn’t stop Devan’s older generations from crafting their own version. Women in the village would harvest ripe beans, sun-dry and roast them, then pound the beans into coarse fragments before brewing them with hot water. This hands-off, natural method likely contributed to the pure, unadulterated flavor that became part of Devan coffee’s early identity—and its lasting legacy.

Modern-Day Export and Recognition

Although Devan coffee hasn’t achieved mass market awareness, it has begun to make small steps onto the global stage. Local farmers have signed agreements to export Devan coffee to places like Hawaii, signaling growing interest beyond Taiwan. Within Sedi Township, locals can already enjoy fresh cups of this distinctive, homegrown coffee, often traced back to trees with deep local history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Devan Village located?

Devan Village is located in Sedi Township, Pingtung County, in southernmost Taiwan. It sits at an elevation between 800 and 1,200 meters, making it part of the island’s high-altitude coffee-growing region.

How old are the coffee trees in Devan?

Some coffee trees in Devan Village are up to 60 years old, originating from the Japanese colonial period. There are also many trees around 20 years old, and over 80% of the village’s residents currently grow coffee.

What makes Devan coffee different?

Devan coffee is known for its unique cup profile derived from high-altitude growing conditions and decades-old trees. The coffee is often described as memorable and distinctive, with a natural processing heritage that contributes to its enduring local reputation.

Is Devan coffee exported internationally?

While not widely known globally, Devan coffee has begun limited exports, including agreements to send coffee to Hawaii. It remains a niche product but is slowly gaining international attention.

How did coffee originally come to Taiwan?

Coffee was introduced to Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period in the early 20th century. Though it was once promoted across several regions, cultivation declined rapidly after the Japanese departure due to lack of demand and infrastructure.

What traditional coffee preparation methods were used in Devan?

Before modern brewing methods, Devan villagers would sun-dry and roast harvested coffee beans, manually crush them, and brew the grounds with hot water—a simple, natural method that highlighted the beans’ inherent qualities.

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For fans of Taiwan-grown coffee profiles like those from Devan Village, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Yirgacheffe for its bright floral and citrus notes, or their Ethiopia Humbera for a complex fruit-forward cup. Both highlight the high-altitude, delicate fruity characteristics that resonate with Taiwanese mountain-grown beans. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.