Origin of the Vietnamese coffee tree
Some historical documents state that the coffee plant was first brought to Vietnam by French missionaries in 1857. However, in the book "All About Coffee", which William H. Ukers (founder and editor of the Tea and Coffee Trade Journal magazine) worked on for 17 years and collected material from around the world, it is stated: "Arabica was the first variety of coffee brought to Vietnam in 1887. These seeds came from the island of Reunion, and the first year's harvest was distributed throughout the country to promote this industry. After harvesting and processing under the brand 'Arabica du Tonkin', the coffee was exported to France.
Subsequently, in 1908, the French brought two more varieties of coffee to Vietnam: Robusta (Coffea canephora) and Excelsa (Coffea excelsa). The French did not stop there and experimented with different varieties from the Congo in the central highlands of Vietnam, where they observed the remarkable growth of coffee in this region.
The Vietnamese soon discovered that Vietnam's climatic and geological conditions were perfect for growing coffee trees. From that point on, large-scale production began. The plantations were mainly concentrated in the central provinces of the highlands, so Robusta coffee trees were mainly grown there. This type of coffee benefits from the nutrient-rich (red basalt) soil necessary for its good development. These conditions also allow for a coffee with unique flavors compared to other coffees grown in other regions of the world.
After the withdrawal of the French, the declaration of independence and the reunification of Vietnam, most coffee producers continued their culture.
By the end of the 1990s, Vietnam had become the leading coffee producer in Southeast Asia after Brazil and the second largest producer and exporter of green coffee in the world. Production was mainly focused on Robusta beans.
Coffee production increased steadily by 20%-30% per year during the 1990s, with coffee plantations being established on an area of over half a million hectares (mostly two to three hectares). This contributed significantly to the country's economic transformation. As an example, it can be mentioned that in 1994, about 60% of the population lived below the poverty line, while today this figure has dropped to less than 10%. And undoubtedly, this success cannot be ignored without the significant role that coffee cultivation has contributed to it.
Today, Vietnamese coffee is mainly intended for export. However, the so-called "specialty coffee" trend in Vietnam continues. Every year, there are numerous competitions for coffee farmers, as well as coffee festivals. Coffee farmers bring their green coffee beans to competitions so that experts can evaluate the quality. To ensure a fair and accurate evaluation, farmers usually bring between 1,000 and 7,000 kg of coffee to participate. The coffee festivals were organized so that coffee farmers can meet and exchange experiences in growing and caring for coffee plants. At the same time, it is also an opportunity for domestic and foreign companies to meet, exchange ideas and work together to advance the development of how to raise the quality of Vietnamese coffee to a new level.
