Mae Suai - Thailand

Tasting Notes: Plum, Blackberry, Winey, Floral Nawin Yaesorkoo is one of the most innovative farmers and coffee processors in Thailand, producing coffee at his family farm in Hua Chang and carrying out post-harvest processing at his mill in Mae Suai. Mae Suai is one of the largest coffee growing areas in Thailand, with 500 households of the Akha hill tribe growing several varieties including Catuai, Typica, Chiang Mai, and SJ133. This coffee was grown by the smallholder producers of the Mae Suai area, and processed using a Red Honey post-harvest processing method at Nawin’s mill. Coffee farming is a relatively new industry in Thailand, and one that is proving to be attractive to young entrepreneurs like Nawin. Thailand’s current coffee history dates back to the 1970s, when an opium eradication project started by the King of Thailand introduced the first coffee trees to areas like Doi Saket. Efforts to reforest degraded land and introduce coffee and other crops to replace illicit cultivations proved extremely successful. Farmers’ mountain properties today are flourishing, with many of the original planted varieties—like Catuai, Typica, and local Chiang Mai which is a cross between SL-28, Caturra, and Timor hybrid—thriving in healthy production. Origin: Thailand Region: Chiang Rai Variety: Catuai, Typica, Chiang Mai, SJ133 Altitude: 1250-1450 MASL Processing: Natural