Did you know that Lao PDR is one of the world's perfect coffee growing areas? Did you also know that it is working on becoming one of leaders for fairly traded coffee?

The Bolaven Plateau in Southern Laos, at a height of 1300 meters with rich volcanic soil is a world class origin for fairly trade, shade grown, pure Arabica specialty coffee.

Beautiful farmer, beautiful coffee

This is good news for the caffeine-ready traveler looking for the perfect ‘cuppa’ while on vacation in the ‘Land of a Million Elephants’. Even better news for the 'aware' consumer are the specialty roasting companies supplying fair trade beans to the wonderfully delicious boutique cafes popping up in the capital city of Vientiane and the northern cultural center of Luang Prabang.

The Lao Fair Trade Coffee Story

The coffee growing community in Laos includes about 20,000 farming families in 250 villages and several larger farming companies. Many ethnic minority groups are members of this community and most farming families depend on the income from the coffee harvest for survival. In fact, the Bolaven plateau is named after the largest ethnic group in the coffee area, the Laven.

After several failed attempts French colonists were able to establish a relatively stable coffee production by the middle of the last century. However from a combination of disease, war and lack of care production declined until quite recently. Currently, the Lao coffee harvest generates about 15-20,000 tons a year, 80% of which is Robusta.

Sorting beans for specialty grade coffee

Over the past 20 years, various development agencies and the Lao Government have been working with the farmers to introduce hearty, high yielding Arabica plants to the plateau. Oxfam also has a project on the Bolaven Plateau for farmers to produce a specialty grade coffee, sell their coffee directly to the export market or local roasters. At about double the price of Robusta, these efforts are gradually improving farmers’ incomes.

These projects also have encouraged socially responsible businesses to work directly with farmers and farmer groups, such as the Jhai Coffee Farmer Cooperative, and provide training to assure that the beans are processed according to specialty coffee standards. As the first co-op (and the only coffee co-op) to be certified Fair Trade in Laos, Jhai Coffee farmers are spreading the message that quality and consistency results in the highest prices for the best beans.

Fair trade farmers and advisor

Better yet, as they are Fair Trade certified, caffeine cravers know that the farmers receive the bulk of the income generated by their coffee. For more information, go to Fair Trade Net website.

How make a great cup of coffee?

Perhaps the most important part of making a great cup of coffee is the freshness. Grind beans just before brewing. Match the coarseness of the grind with the brewing style; coarse for French press, medium for drip and fine for espresso. Use 2 tbsp of coffee to 6oz of hot water (10g to 180ml). After brewing, add hot water to adjust the strength of the brew. Keep beans in an airtight container in a cool dry place - never in the refrigerator. Store ground coffee in the freezer and only defrost what you want to use. Use the beans within three weeks of opening the bag.

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For inquiries, samples or for general questions and comments about Lao coffee please contact Steve Feldschneider, Founder and President, Lao Mountain, Inc.
Email: laomountcoffee@yahoo.com
phone: ++856-20-5612813

For specialty travel information and coffee-lover tours, please contact:

North by North-East Travel
Tel: +66 (0) 4251 3572
Fax:+66 (0) 4251 3573
e-mail: info@ north-by-north-east.com
Web site: www.north-by-north-east.com

Photos and captions courtesy of Lao Mountain, Inc.