Taiwan Coffee Culture and Coffee Farms

It is no news that coffee is the third most consumed beverage in the world. And there's always a supremacy battle for the country which produces and consumes the best coffee.

The Americas and some parts of Africa always get glowing attention for their premium coffee, but an unsung hero continues to fly under the radar in the coffee world - Taiwan.

Taiwan is a scenic island located in Asia. And there's more to this country than its sumptuous street food and picture-perfect landmarks. Taiwan is home to one of the most aromatic, flavorful, and tasty specialty coffee in the world.

Taiwan Coffee Culture

The Taiwanese are coffeeholics - and this was recently proven when "coffee" became the most consumed beverage in Taiwan. Furthermore, research states that approximately 200 cups of freshly brewed "brain juice" is consumed by an average Taiwanese yearly - that's a staggering 2.4 billion cups! Add to that, Taiwan houses over 15,000 coffee shops. Currently, the country boasts of 4000 bean roasters.

To pay homage to Taiwan's booming coffee industry, the SCA has earmarked 2023 to host three coffee championships in Taipei, Taiwan.

Why is Taiwan Coffee so special?

The statement "Good Things come in small packages" holds true for the Taiwanese Coffee Industry. Taiwan may not be a giant producer of coffee owing to its small size of farmland but the  beans cultivated there can compete with any coffee from other regions of the world when it comes to quality, taste, and richness.

According to Taiwan Coffee Laboratory researcher, Lin Je, barely two decades ago, only 4.73 hectares of seeds were planted in Taiwan, but presently coffee farming has spread to 1,153.21 hectares. And the reason for this progressive growth is not far - fetched - the coffee beans from Taiwan are of superior quality.

Below, we'll reveal the best kept secrets of the local coffee farmers and how their velvety-smooth, rich brew comes to life.

Planting/Cultivation

The importance of terroir (location) when planting coffee seeds cannot be overemphasized. Little wonder, local farmers utilize volcanic soils which provide nutrients to the seedlings, offer good drainage, and create shade which encourages the coffee beans to ripen properly.

For top-quality coffee, the farmers grow their coffee beans at high altitudes. The higher the location, the tastier the coffee. 

Harvesting

Unlike large coffee bean producers who use machines to harvest their beans, the local planters utilize traditional methods of harvesting to preserve the essence of the coffee.

Mature and ripe coffee cherries are hand-harvested after the planting season.

Processing/Drying

After harvesting, each batch of cherries is properly cleaned and sun-dried for approximately 2 weeks.

Drying the coffee cherries  without the use of water or machines, makes the coffee taste strong and fruity with some mild notes of fermentation.

Roasting

Wondering why Taiwanese coffee satisfies the caffeine rush of even the most thirsty palates? The secret lies in how they are roasted.

In Taiwan culture, green coffee beans are roasted a few hours before they are shipped to their final consumers. This preserves the shelf-life of the product.

Unlike  roasted coffee beans that sit on market shelves for months, the indigenous roasted beans are always delivered fresh to ensure that you get a delicious brew with a full-flavored aftertaste.

Where can I get Original Taiwan Coffee?

A wide array of coffee brands flood the market but to get the real deal is where the problem lies.

If you've been wanting to have a taste of authentic Taiwanese Coffee without taking a trip to Taiwan, you should try the Formosa Coffee.

When you brew the high-quality roasted Formosa beans, you'll get bright, smooth, and full-bodied coffee.