Zuoyuan Coffee Manor in Baoshan

Zuoyuan Coffee Manor is located in Xinzai Village (新寨村), Lujiangba (潞江坝), Baoshan City (保山市), Yunnan Province. It is the first large-scale plantation of Geisha coffee (瑰夏咖啡) in Yunnan. The manor started cultivating Geisha coffee in 2016, and by 2023, the planting area had expanded to 800 acres. The Geisha coffee beans grown here have consistently scored highly in international evaluations and set the domestic auction price record for coffee beans. In 2022, Zuoyuan Coffee Manor was included in the first batch of Yunnan Province’s Boutique Coffee Plantations (云南省精品咖啡庄园), becoming a benchmark company driving the premium transformation of Yunnan’s coffee industry. The manor uses the “Village Committee + Enterprise + Cooperative + Base + Farmers” model to increase the income of surrounding coffee farmers. It has also established long-term collaborations with companies like Starbucks (星巴克) and Zhongka Foods (中咖食品), and its products are sold to markets both domestically and internationally.

Overview of Zuoyuan Coffee Manor

Zuoyuan Coffee Manor was founded by the Fan Qi Zuo family (番啟佐家族) and is the first boutique manor in Yunnan to scale the planting of Geisha coffee (瑰夏咖啡). Located in the Nujiang Dry Hot Valley (怒江干热河谷) on the southern slope of Gaoligong Mountain (高黎贡山), the manor sits at an altitude of 1,100–1,800 meters, benefiting from a unique climate and volcanic ash soil, which cultivates Baoshan’s small coffee beans (保山小粒咖啡) with distinct flavor. As of 2024, the manor has expanded to 1,100 acres of planting area (800 acres dedicated to Geisha coffee), producing an average of 2 tons of coffee per year. The wholesale price of green coffee beans ranges from 800 to 1,200 RMB per kilogram.

Core Features

Boutique Coffee Benchmark

• In 2016, the manor began planting Geisha coffee (瑰夏), and in 2022, it was included in the first batch of Yunnan Province’s Boutique Coffee Plantations.

• In 2024, Baoshan Geisha set a record with a cupping score of 89.175 points and an auction price of 3,800 RMB per kilogram.

• It has collaborated with companies such as Starbucks (星巴克) and Zhongka Foods (中咖食品), with its coffee beans featured at the China International Import Expo (进博会) in 2019 as a representative of Yunnan’s coffee.

Ecological Planting Technology

• The manor uses a “coffee + banana + Chinese bee” (咖啡+香蕉+中华蜂) compound planting model to improve quality through precise water and fertilizer management.

• Coffee trees are shaded with Chinaberry trees (苦楝果树) and insect prevention is achieved using Chinaberry fruit water, making it an organic cultivation environment.

Industry Chain Extension

• The manor has developed innovative coffee processing methods, including the red wine processing method (红酒处理法), producing distinctive coffee varieties.

• The manor has preserved 126-year-old coffee trees (126年树龄古咖啡树), serving as a historical testament to the development of Yunnan coffee (云南咖啡).

History and Development

The manor was established by the Fan Qi Zuo family, which has been involved in coffee cultivation since 1988. In 2013, it introduced Geisha coffee (瑰夏咖啡) from Panama, making it the first coffee plantation in Yunnan to grow this variety. In 2016, the manor established the first 200-acre Geisha plantation, and in 2019, the first batch of 200 kilograms of green beans was sold at a premium price. In 2022, Zuoyuan Coffee Manor was selected for the first batch of Yunnan Province’s Boutique Coffee Plantations and launched the coffee boutique manor construction project, expanding the primary processing production line and office area.

Coffee Planting and Production

The manor is located at an altitude of 1,400–1,800 meters on the southern slope of Gaoligong Mountain (高黎贡山), taking advantage of the unique climatic conditions to cultivate premium coffee. As of 2024, the Geisha coffee plantation spans 800 acres, producing an average of 2 tons of coffee annually. The wholesale price of green coffee beans ranges from 800 to 1,200 RMB per kilogram. The manor employs a multi-layered planting model that includes bananas, coffee, grass, and Chinese bees, which increases the productivity per acre and controls quality through precise water and fertilizer management.

Industry Cooperation and Development

• In cooperation with Zhongka Foods (中咖食品), the manor has supplied over 1,000 tons of coffee beans annually for the “Xinlu” brand since 2022.

• For four consecutive years, Zuoyuan Coffee Manor has been included in Starbucks (星巴克)’s global procurement system. In 2019, its coffee beans were showcased as part of Yunnan’s representation at the China International Import Expo (进博会).

• The products are sold in major domestic cities like Beijing (北京) and Shanghai (上海), as well as international markets including Australia (澳大利亚), Japan (日本), and South Korea (韩国).

Research and Development

In collaboration with the Yunnan Agricultural Academy of Sciences (云南省农科院), the manor has developed new coffee varieties, including Yun Coffee RJS1 (云咖RJS1号) and Yun Coffee RJS2 (云咖RJS2号). The Yun Coffee RJS1 variety has improved disease resistance by 40% and passed provincial-level certification in 2022. The manor also handles 80% of the province’s Geisha coffee seedling propagation. In 2023, its Geisha coffee beans earned a “President’s Bean” rating of 91 points from Coffee Review (《咖啡评论》). In 2024, Baoshan Geisha set a new record in the green bean competition, with a cupping score of 89.175 points and an auction price of 3,800 RMB per kilogram.

Industry Contribution

• Variety Development: Partnered with the Yunnan Agricultural Academy of Sciences to develop disease-resistant varieties such as Yun Coffee RJS1, and handles 80% of Geisha coffee seedling propagation in the province.

• Coffee Farmer Support: Through the “Village Committee + Enterprise + Cooperative” model, the manor has helped over 200 farmers increase their annual income by 12,000 RMB.

Visitor Experiences

Cultural Study Tours

The manor plans to develop coffee-related educational routes that combine local culture with coffee cultivation techniques, providing an immersive learning experience for visitors.

Tourism Services

The manor offers coffee picking, roasting experiences, and a “coffee banquet” featuring signature dishes made with coffee. Visitors can engage in these activities for a truly unique experience.