Coffee cherries at different stages of sun-drying
Coffee processing is highly labor-intensive.
Snout & Seek
Local coffee farmers are benefiting from growing coffee
Compared with tea, coffee is still a relatively new crop here, but more farmers in Yunnan are beginning to see real returns from planting coffee trees.
Sun-drying coffee fruit on the ground in Yunnan
Yunnan’s plateau climate makes it a great place for coffee processing.
Separating Pu’er tea leaves for brewing
Unlike many loose-leaf teas in other regions of China, Pu’er is often pressed into a tight “puck” (cake).
Daily offering for the Buddha in Jingmai
Each morning, devoted Dai Buddhist worshippers visit the local temple to present breakfast offerings, most often centered around rice as the staple.
A basket of Gu Niang Guo (Ground Cherry)
Gu niang guo (姑娘果), also known as ground cherry, cape gooseberry, or goldenberry.
Tea pot hanging over a fire pit
Tea in Yunnan isn’t treated as something formal or fussy the way it often is in Zhejiang or Fujian.
Fermented vegetables in glass jars
One difference we noticed in Yunnan compared with Sichuan is how fermented condiments show up in everyday cooking.
Everything can be dried in Yunnan
From giant bean pods to cured meat, Yunnan is blessed with one of the most ideal climates in China for air-drying.
Tea tree flowers drying on a bamboo winnowing basket in the Jingmai Mountains, Yunnan
One of the most fascinating parts of rural life is how people make full use of what the land offers.
A Bulang woman sorting tea leaves at the front of her shop
One of the most common sights in the traditional villages of the Jingmai Mountains is a row of small tea shops.
Local flowers in Yunnan carry medicinal significance
As we walk into the ancient tea tree forest, we start to notice the sheer range of flora and fauna.
A local guide in Yunnan introduces Yunnan olives.
They are also known as 滇橄榄 (dian gan lan). This round fruit has a distinctive flavor that starts slightly astringent, then turns sweet and refreshing.
Profile
Yifei Guo: A Daughter of Baijiu, A Builder of Home
Meet, Yifei Guo, a new generation born into baijiu during a tumultuous time for the industry.
Culture
Mianning - Sichuan’s Finest Ham-Producing Region
Sustained through generations of lived experience and craftsmanship, the ham workshops here reveal how farmers understand and respond to local climate and terroir.
Culture
Yi Pickled Greens: Fermentation from the High Mountains
Explore the Yi traditions of pickled greens that appear in all aspects of local Yi life.
Story
In Yunnan, Food and Drink Offer a Glimpse of Real Life
Chloe Wang offers us a story into her recent trip to Yunnan to experience coffee and tea culture, and maybe a little of the unexpected.
Culture
Shilong Village: Sugarcane as Roof, Gift, and the Taste of New Year
Sugarcane is a versatile plant, providing more than just sweet flavors for the locals in Shilong Village.
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