There is a special coffee in Yunnan province called "first kiss coffee". The coffee derives its name from the process which the beans are separated from their peels—by the mouths of local young boys and girls.

A romantic story is hidden behind the unconventional coffee bean production process.

In Zhukula village of the Dali Bai autonomous prefecture, a girl's lover was once injured during a war. The girl picked some red fruits on the mountain and peeled them with her mouth as there were no other tools to peel them. The girl made coffee from the fruits and fed it to her lover. The young man was surprisingly cured!

Yunnan first kiss coffee has a unique flavor as its coffee beans are separated from their peels by mouths of the youth. [Photo/people.com]

The coffee, therefore, became popular across Yunnan.

Yunnan coffee originated 100 years ago when Tian De, a missionary, first went to Zhukula village to preach, and planted Yunnan’s first coffee beans.

Now there are 13 mu (0.86 hectares) of ancient coffee trees among which 24 plants are 100 years old.

Coffee tree with cherry like coffee fruits. [Photo/people.com]

Many national and provincial level coffee cultural forums regard Zhukula coffee as a living fossil among Chinese coffee.

Experts say that the most suitable areas to plant coffee exist between north latitude 15° and 23.5° lines, precisely where Yunnan lies.

The low latitude, high altitude and large temperature variation between day and night contribute to the high quality of Yunnan coffee.

The main types of coffee planted in Yunnan are Catimor, Typica and Bourbon.

Edited by Peter Nordlinger