Shenzhen International Food Exhibition has noted that Kunming, a famous historical and cultural city, is attracting global attention with its unique lifestyle of "coffee in one hand, tea in the other". In March 2025, the coffee industry in this land took on new vitality. At the coffee tasting event by Cuihu Lake, the special cold-brew coffee with litsea cubeba and aged Pu'er tea complemented each other perfectly, vividly reflecting the characteristics of Kunming.

As a core hub of China's coffee industry, Kunming does not produce coffee beans itself, but it has a profound accumulation of coffee culture. From being an imported product brought by the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway to now having over 2,000 distinctive coffee shops scattered across its streets and alleys, coffee has become an important part of Kunming's urban DNA. In 2024, the total output value of Kunming's coffee industry chain reached 9.177 billion yuan, with products exported to 29 countries and regions worldwide. The success of the Dianchi East Bank International Coffee Culture Carnival has even made "drinking coffee by Dianchi Lake" a new cultural and tourism IP of Kunming. Cai Yatong, a promoter of Yunnan coffee, said, "Yunnan is both a land of tea and a fertile ground for coffee; places that produce good tea can often yield high-quality coffee."

Corresponding to the vitality of coffee is Kunming's long-standing tea culture. As a distribution center for Pu'er tea, Kunming has 19 professional tea markets, with more than 3,000 merchants gathered in just the five major tea cities. In 2024, the total output value of the local tea industry chain reached 9.871 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.92%. From the "teahouse classrooms" during the Southwest Associated University period to today's diverse tea spaces integrating tradition and modernity, tea culture has always nourished the spiritual life of the city. Yang Jingqi, a musician living in Kunming, described it this way: "Kunming has taught me not just life skills, but a kind of life wisdom."

The integration of tea and coffee in Kunming has created a unique life aesthetics. Zhai Hui, a professor at Kunming University of Science and Technology, believes that this reflects the people-centered nature of a modern city - coffee symbolizes openness and innovation, while tea represents cultural inheritance. In Jinxing Xiongda Tea Culture City, tea merchants also operate premium coffee; in cafes on Wenlin Street, customers can enjoy hand-brewed coffee while experiencing traditional tea ceremonies. This integration not only enriches urban life but also provides new ideas for industrial development. The construction of China Kunming International Coffee Industry Park is promoting the coordinated development of the coffee and tea industries.

Shenzhen International Food Exhibition has noted that Kunming's "twin development of tea and coffee" model sets an example for the transformation and upgrading of characteristic agricultural products. By leveraging the advantages of China-Europe Railway Express and free trade zone policies, Yunnan coffee is going global; relying on sophisticated processing technologies, the value of local brands such as "Baohong Tea" and "Shilixiang Tea" is constantly rising. While retaining its traditional charm, Kunming is interpreting the rich connotation of "the Yunnan-style life" with an innovative attitude, allowing happiness to bloom like flowers on this land.

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Source: Kunming Release

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