Best Thai Coffees in 2023

Thailand Coffee

Coffee in Thailand can be dated back in the era of the king in 1969, Bhumibol Adulyadej who created a royal project on coffee. The coffee market was referred to an Arabica Chiang Mai market. Through the royal project, the government sponsored a program to try and deal with poverty in Thailand northern is as well as establish an eco-friendly income generating activities.

The area was very popular in opium growing as cash crop for the people to survive. The government encouraged the locals to practice coffee growing which was sustainable and bring income to their pockets. The coffees would also make a valuable use of the Thailand cool climate condition as well as the fertile and rich soils. The coffees are cultivated about 45 ft. above the mean sea level. The short monsoon winds lessen the humidity of the country.

Thailand exports very little coffee due to its high local consumption and high coffee demand in Asia.

Quality of the Thailand coffee

Though Thailand has been into coffee farming for less than a century, their coffee beans are among some of the high end quality beans in the world. Their sustainable farming of coffee and coffee culture in the nation has contributed to the country being the best coffee producers in Asia.

Varieties of coffees produced in Thailand

Thailand produces both coffee Arabica and Robusta coffees. Arabica is grown in the northern region which is characterized by cool temperatures and high elevation which are suitable for coffee this high grown coffee. On the other hand the coffee Robusta is planted on the northern region which is not necessary highland. Robusta is low quality and contains more caffeine while the Arabica coffee is high grown with good quality and is sweeter.

Kafae Boran

This is a type of coffee in Thailand created at the First World War when coffee was costly and rare. The coffee consisted of other less expensive grains like sugar, salt, soy beans and tamarind seeds which were roasted together with the coffee to make it last longer . Sometimes, butter was also added. The concoction was filtered using some sock like bag cloth using the pour over method. The beverage was tasty and cheap but was accessible and worked just fine during the coffee shortage period.

Today, the coffee industry have greatly involved in the country with coffee being available all over the country in abundance.

Coffee growing regions in Thailand

Coffee growing is divided in three major regions in Thailand; northern part which is highland and suitable for Arabica growing, west also a highland region and southern region where coffee Robusta is commonly grown. Specific regions include:

Doi Chang

This is a village located in the north part of the country. The area is a few miles from Chiang Rai and is inside the region of Golden Triangle. The area got very beautiful scenarios with dotted hilly mountains and lush vegetation. People tour this region which does not only plant coffee beans but also receive guest and sell coffee. The coffee mostly grown here is Arabica and produces one of the best coffees in the whole country and often used as a brand for the Thailand coffees.

Doi Tung

This region produces one of the popular Thailand coffees. It is also located in the northern part of the country. The coffee was introduced in 1988 by the mother of the princess to be form of sustainable farming replacing the notorious Opium harvesting practiced then. The coffee plantations are near to Doi Chang.

Kanchanaburi

A region to the north of Kanchanaburi is Thong Pha Phum popular for its civet specialty coffee. The area is beautiful and mountainous with unspoiled surrounding. Civet coffee variety is well known all over the world for being so expensive and is usually sold at Kanchanaburi. The coffee originated from the Sumatra region in Indonesia. The beans are from eaten coffee berries by palm civet an Asian cut which is produces as waste by the animal.

Chumphon

This is a region in Thailand southern region and is well known for growing the coffee Robusta beans. The area gives tourist tours in their plantations, the rich caffeine cup of coffee and also sells the beans.

Most popular Thailand coffee brands

Coffees coming from the northern region of the country, Arabica beans are the most famous coffee brands in Thailand namely; Doi Tung the mountain flag and Doi Chang the mountain elephant. These coffees are the only one with European Union coffee association approval for qualifying both in rich flavor and high quality.

Other brands of coffee include Lanna cafe which contributes to support and sustaining plus support the traditional northern region farming. The coffee comprising this brand is high-grown Arabica which is hand-picked, dry or wet processed and certified as a fair trade.

Black ivory is another brand which is made very uniquely and comes from the northern region. The coffee is made from beans which are eaten by the elephants and then extracted from the animal dung. The coffee is as weird as it is costly. It goes for about 1000 US Dollar per kg and a cup of the same is also as costly.

Serving Thailand coffee traditionally

A traditional Thailand coffee can be found on food stands and market in all over the country. The ground beans are usually filtered using a cloth consisting of a handle and metal ring and the put to carafe as black. The coffee is left for about 10 minutes to steep and make it strong, bitter and dark. The coffee is over extracted to produce more and also save cost.

People from this nation also take ground coffee combined with soy beans and soy bean known as Oliang. The bitter taste is overcome with brown sugar, evaporated milk and condensed milk together with ice blocks.

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