Muantae : Chiang Mai, Thailand

Considered by many connoisseurs as second to none among the world's renowned coffees, Thai coffees offer their own uniquely exotic flavours.

Since most of these Arabica coffees are grown in the northern mountainous regions of Thailand, visitors to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai can sample, enjoy, and take back home many blends of Thai gourmet coffees ranging from organic, peaberries to sophisticately roasted beans.

With the consumption of international coffee steadily expanding and some very challenging competition, Thailand's largest coffee producer, "Doi Kham Coffee”- under The Royal Project Foundation - is focusing its strategies on raising the Thai coffee quality level to preferred international standards. Prof. Dr. Pongsak Angasith, President of Chiang Mai University and also a chief of the Doi Kham coffee project, recently remarked that “The Royal Project Foundation is concentrating all of its efforts on research development of coffee cultivation and processing at Doi Kham coffee.”

Coffee cultivation started in 1972 with the Karen hill tribes at Ban Nong Lom on the Doi Inthanon mountains chain under the patronage of The Royal Project Foundation. After 37 years of development, The Royal Project's coffee under the "Doi Kham" brand has become the largest producer and grower of Thailand. Coffee yields are usually harvested from November to February with output of Years 2006-2007 reaching 292 tons, but dropping to 278 tons in Years 2008 - 2009. As a coffee expert, Prof. Dr.Pongsak explained that the coffee yields vary from year to year and have been known to have reached 300 tons on some years.

With the emphasis on top quality, senior researchers and coffee experts from the Chiang Mai University, The Royal Project Foundation, and the Agricultural Extension Department have pulled their efforts together in finding ways to improve the Doi Kham coffee. Training seminars are regularly conducted for coffee growers under the project in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Mae Hong Son where coffee fields cover more than 4,000 Rai of mountainous terrains ranging from 900 to 1,400 metres above sea level. Coffee grown at 1,200 metres above the sea level usually produces superior quality beans. Coffee trees start giving berries after their third year with some trees lasting up to 50 years. A rust resistant coffee variety and green coffee are also being developed.

The prices of coffee are set to the standards of the International Coffee Organisation (ICO) with the Doi Kham coffee being rated second, growing a Guatemala type which is similar to the Hawaiian coffee. Prof. Dr. Pongsak added that there is a plan to promote organic coffee and special origins coffee cultivation and that growers will receive training on the latest cultivation techniques. Roasting processes require modern technology and training which growers have to strictly adhere to.

Areas that are suitable for these projects are the Doi Inthanon and the Ang Khang mountain ranges with altitudes averaging 1,2000 metres.

There exists a strong cooperation between the Columbian Government and the Royal Project Foundation in exchanging knowledge and experience as The Royal Project Foundation is internationally recognized as having successful achieved ending opium poppies growing to shifting cultivation by implementing crops substitution projects. In Columbia,the Government has implemented alternative development as preventive measure to eradicate narcotics problem. Members of the Royal Project Foundation staff recently attended seminars in Columbia in order to observe and study coffee cultivation which Columbia is famous for as it is the world's second largest coffee producer.

Doi Kham coffee products have been on the market since the last 3 years. Prof. Dr.Ponsak further noted that famous name brands which have purchased Doi Kham green beans to roast into their own coffee include Black Canyon, Aroma, true coffee,illy, Cartel ,Hillkoff and J.J. Bakery. Apart from 95% of the domestic market, Doi Kham coffee is also exported to the U.K. where it is distributed to other European countries by an importer who owns several branches of Thai restaurants in the U.K. Promotion of Doi Kham coffee was held in London last year at the Thai Festival which was part of the Trafalgar Square Festival which drew over 100,000 visitors. Most of visitors to the Thai Festival who had the opportunity to taste the Doi Kham coffee gave positive feedback that it was a quality coffee.

Mr. Chaiwat Chumpun, a coffee agriculturist at The Royal Project Foundation, said that there are 21 coffee development centres under The Royal Project Foundation. Coffee growers include hill tribes such as Karen, Hmong, Muser, Lisu and Lawa, as well as some low-landers. These growers are provided with coffee saplings and fertilizers as part of their loans through The Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.

Green beans are packed into 50 kilos bags and sold to roasters in Thailand. Roasted Doi Kham coffees are available at local supermarkets in two versions of medium roasted and dark roasted coffee in 200 grams packets. Discounts are available for larger packets of 500 grams for coffee houses and restaurants.

Interested persons can contact the Doi Kham Coffee Marketing Section:

Mob.: Tel. 086 198 7996.

Images of Doi Kham Coffee

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