Yunnan coffee gaining intl recognition

For more than a decade, German entrepreneur Eric Baden has been working to elevate coffee from Yunnan province into the top tier of the global market, alongside renowned beans from Colombia and Ethiopia.

Baden, who runs Coffee Commune, a Shanghai-based brand, said he was particularly inspired by a recent comment from President Xi Jinping. During a visit to the Old Town of Lijiang in Yunnan on March 19, Xi was offered a cup of coffee and remarked that "Yunnan coffee represents China."

"It's a remarkable statement because coffee has long been considered a Western beverage and culture," Baden said. "But that is no longer true. Young Chinese consumers have embraced coffee just as much as tea — some even prefer it."