Taiwanese Coffee Grown in High Tree Coffee Farm

If you've ever wondered where to taste coffee right where it's grown—without the noise of a city or the pressure of a café menu—there’s a place in southern Taiwan where you can. Tucked among green hills, a coffee farmer has turned his land into both a working plantation and a peaceful retreat, where you can enjoy freshly brewed coffee while surrounded by the very trees that produced it.

High Tree coffee farmer Xu Canfu converted over 3,000 square metres of betel nut land into a coffee farm and built a leisure farmstead right in the plantation, complete with bridges, gardens, and shaded seating. Here, visitors enjoy coffee while watching the trees sway and inhaling the aroma straight from the source.

From Betel Nut to Coffee: A Farm Transformed

In recent years, farmer Xu Canfu has replaced his 3,000-plus square metre (over 0.3 hectares) betel nut plantation with coffee trees. This shift wasn’t just about crop diversity—it was also a response to Taiwan’s policy to phase out betel nut farming. Unlike selling to middlemen in the betel nut trade, Xu now sells his coffee directly, avoiding price manipulation and keeping more profit for himself.

“We used to sell betel nuts to traders who haggle. With coffee, I deal with customers myself. I don’t let others set the price,” said Xu. This direct approach allows him to maintain control over his margins and build personal connections with coffee drinkers.

What Makes High Tree Coffee Different

Xu’s coffee plants flourish under careful tending. The leaves, described as “golden and glossy,” indicate healthy trees with strong nutrient uptake—a sign that the coffee cherries they bear are likely to be high quality. The farm sits in the mountainous region of Gaoshu, a mostly Hakka area in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan.

The farm’s coffee trees are loaded with vibrant green beans, a visual cue of healthy growth. The altitude, climate, and attentive farming all contribute to the final cup profile. While specific processing details aren’t mentioned, the focus on plant health and environment hints at a thoughtfully grown product.

A Farmstead Built for Relaxation and Connection

Xu didn’t just plant coffee—he designed a space to share it. The farm includes small bridges, flowing water features, and traditional garden elements like bamboo gates and straw hat sculptures. These touches create a tranquil atmosphere that feels worlds away from the busy outside world.

“My goal isn’t to get rich. I want to make friends. When family and friends come here, it feels like home,” Xu explained. The farm is meant to be a gathering place, where visitors sip coffee, admire the trees, and enjoy a moment of peace. Traditional Hakka culture is also subtly reflected through local design elements and folk songs, adding cultural depth to the experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the High Tree coffee farm located?

The High Tree coffee farm is in Gaoshu Township, Pingtung County, in southern Taiwan. It's part of the island's coffee-growing highland region and lies within a predominantly Hakka community.

What did the farmer grow on the land before coffee?

Before planting coffee, farmer Xu Canfu grew betel nut on over 3,000 square metres of land. He transitioned to coffee as part of Taiwan’s broader effort to phase out betel nut cultivation due to health and environmental concerns.

How is the coffee at High Tree different from commercial Taiwanese coffee?

The coffee at High Tree is directly grown and sold by farmer Xu Canfu, bypassing middlemen. This allows for better pricing control and a more personal connection with consumers. The farm also focuses on growing coffee in a shaded, well-maintained environment, which is believed to improve bean quality.

Can visitors taste coffee at the farm?

Yes, visitors can taste freshly brewed coffee while sitting amidst the coffee trees. The farmstead includes seating areas with views of the plantation, creating a farm-to-cup experience right in the middle of the growing fields.

Does the farm grow any specific coffee variety?

The article does not specify the coffee variety (such as Typica, Bourbon, or Catuai) grown at High Tree. However, it describes healthy, well-maintained trees with vibrant leaves, suggesting the farm follows good agricultural practices that typically support high-quality specialty coffee production.

What’s the farming philosophy behind High Tree?

Farmer Xu Canfu emphasizes friendship, relaxation, and a return to a simpler life. He designed the farm as a peaceful escape where people can enjoy nature, good coffee, and meaningful conversation—more like a modern-day rural retreat than a commercial operation.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Farm Visits

For coffee lovers planning a visit to a Taiwanese coffee farm—or just dreaming of one—try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Huakui for bright floral and citrus notes, or Yirgacheffe for classic jasmine and stone fruit. Both are light, juicy single origins that highlight the terroir much like High Tree’s hillside-grown beans. For something deeper, their PWN Golden Mandheling offers earthy sweetness with low acidity. All are excellent brewed as pour-over to match the clean, fresh experience of farm-fresh coffee. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.