Laos Coffee Overview

Coffee Farming in Laos

Laos produces two main types of coffee: RobustaAteng is a common name for Catimor coffees widely planted in Sumatra and other Indonesia isles.: Ateng, with several subtypes, is a common name for Catimor coffees widely… and Arabica. 25% of the total crop is Arabica and the rest is RobustaRobusta usually refers to Coffea Robusta, responsible for roughly 25% of the world’s commercial coffee. Taxonomy of Robusta is debated: some sources use “Robusta” to refer to any… coffee. Robusta is mainly used for regular coffee as well as a typical coffee drink in Laos where it is sweetened with condensed milk.  There is also Liberica coffee planted in Laos.

Laos produces Robusta coffee at high altitudes (1300 meters) unlike other countries. 95% of its coffee is harvested in the Bolaven Plateau. Coffee is Laos fifth largest export product. The Bolaven Plateau, where coffee was first planted in Laos during the French colonial times, is the primary region of production for Laos.

Introduction of coffee to Laos

The first few coffee plants were introduced to the country and soils of Laos by French colonists around 1915. After trial and error of trying to harvest coffee beans in the north, the French realized that southern Laos was ideal for plantations. Millions of years ago there was a volcanic eruption in the south, causing the southern soils to contain rich minerals ideal for coffee production. The south is also where the Bolaven Plateau is, which remains as Laos’ primary region of production.

For the past twenty years and continuing, the government of Laos has been working with coffee harvesters to plant more Arabica plants, since it yields a higher price, thus, increasing the income of farmers. There are 20,000 coffee growing communities in 250 villages in Laos and many of these families depend on coffee farming as a living.

Source: Wikipedia