At a Glance (China Coffee Network): Manlaojiang coffee is a local Yunnan specialty-coffee brand with strong recognition and a quality reputation. Born from a 1997 Pu’er poverty-alleviation project, it became Starbucks’ first Chinese supplier in 2011 and the only Chinese coffee to reach the World Barista Championship finals—and in 2018 the only Chinese coffee brand ever listed by The New York Times.
Manlaojiang coffee is a local Yunnan specialty-coffee brand with high recognition and a strong reputation for quality. Below is its detailed introduction.
Brand origin
The trademark applicant is Yunnan Delu Coffee Co., Ltd. Manlaojiang coffee originated in 1997 from a poverty-alleviation project in Pu’er, Yunnan, aimed at helping more than 3,000 Lisu coffee-farming households develop a sustainable coffee business while protecting 150,000 mu of primary rainforest. The brand is named after the Manlao River in Pu’er; in the Dai language it means “a river with sweet-tasting water.”
Development history
In 2008, Manlaojiang coffee was first exported to the US, Germany and other markets, and joined the Specialty Coffee Associations of America and the EU. In 2009, for its outstanding taste, it was recommended as the only Yunnan coffee that could be served as a single origin. In 2011, it became Starbucks’ first Chinese supplier. In 2012, it became the first Chinese coffee to reach the World Barista Championship (WBC) finals. In 2015–2017, it became the designated bean for two editions of the World Coffee Roasting Championship finals. In 2018, it was featured in The New York Times—the only Chinese coffee brand ever listed to date.
Brand honors
Chief roaster Arire placed second globally in CoffeeReview—an international professional coffee evaluation body—in 2015, becoming the first Chinese roaster to earn a CoffeeReview score of 96. In 2023, Manlaojiang appeared at the 7th China-South Asia Expo and became the official coffee of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Provincial Governors’ Forum; its gift products were presented as national gifts to foreign guests.
Product features
It focuses on premium Yunnan coffee. For example, the Asian Elephant single origin is a medium roast—delicate and balanced, with a fruity acidity; the Asian Elephant espresso is a dark roast, acid-free, aromatic and full-bodied. It also offers espresso beans, single-origin pour-over beans, drip coffee and more; some drip coffees were co-developed with Yunnan Agricultural University, featuring distinctive rose-flower aromas, among other characteristics.
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