Soil and Water Conservation quarterly publication NO.41 - Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation, MOA

Our Coffee Moments

According to data from the International Coffee Organization (ICO), the average person in Taiwan consumes about 200 cups of coffee per year. However, based on the statistics from the Chiayi Agricultural Experiment Branch, Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute Council of Agriculture, Taiwan's coffee production exceeded 1,000 tons for two consecutive years in 2018 and 2019. Despite this, it is still far from sufficient to meet the domestic market demand. In light of this trend, many farmers have started to cultivate coffee trees either as a secondary crop or as their main focus, leading to a wave of agricultural transformation.

Taiwanese coffee is grown on slopes located between approximately 22 to 25 degrees latitude and at elevations ranging from 500 to 1400 meters. It is one of the few coffee-producing regions in the world that encompasses the entire process, from bean cultivation, harvesting, fermentation, sun-drying, roasting, hulling, grinding, packaging, marketing, and experiencing. Operating under the principles of sustainable land and environmentally friendly practices, the coffee industry in Taiwan follows a "farm-to-table" approach.

SWCB actively assists the community coffee industry in promoting and upgrading coffee plantation experiences. In 2021, the bureau successfully marketed Taiwan's first coffee microfilm, "The First Cup of Coffee," in Japan, attracting international coffee buyers to purchase Taiwanese specialty coffee. Following that, they launched "The First Cup of Coffee" gift box, which was simultaneously available in Tsutaya Bookstore, Carrefour stores, and 11 other locations across the north, central, and southern regions, as well as online shopping websites. This initiative allowed Taiwanese specialty coffee to enter the lives of urban residents and even become their preferred daily coffee choice.

In terms of coffee experiences, the bureau has designed 16 thematic itineraries for coffee plantations. Visitors can experience activities such as fruit picking, processing, bean roasting, or even hand drip coffee brewing without electricity in Nantou's Guoxing, Yunlin's Gukeng, and Chiayi's Ali Mountain. They can also taste the freshest coffee and local cuisine while combining their visit with accommodations in bed and breakfasts or camping activities. Through the medium of tourism, the aim is to attract the public's attention to Taiwan's domestically produced specialty coffee industry.

Do you enjoy drinking coffee? Don't miss out on this issue's coffee feature. Through the stories of 12 coffee estates in "The First Cup of Coffee," we sincerely invite you to explore the wonderful value of Taiwanese coffee. Additionally, the collaboration between the government and the private sector aims to drive Taiwan's coffee industry forward and create a future full of possibilities.