FLYING DRAGON | SUPER NATURAL CATIMOR | XISHUANG BANNA, YUNNAN, CHINA |FILTER 200g

FLYING DRAGON

This year producers from Man Fei Long Estate began experimenting with shortening individual fermentation periods. Instead of relying on a single long fermentation of roughly four weeks, they shifted to a process divided into three to four stages.

For this lot of Super Natural Catimor, the processing was carried out using a 3-stage fermentation. By breaking the fermentation into multiple phases, producers are able to retain the level of fermentation character they want while better showcasing the fruit characters of the coffee itself, rather than ending up with a profile dominated by acidity or so-called "fermentation" notes.

Another benefit of this multi-staged approach is flexibility. Each phase can be adjusted slightly, allowing producers to fine-tune the flavour outcome. Compared with the previous single-stage long fermentation, this method is also easier to control and more consistent to replicate.

Farm

Man Fei Long Coffee Estate

Origin
Pu Wen, Xishuang Banna, Yunnan, China

Processing
Multi-staged Super Natural

Varietal
Catimor

Producer
Yang Lei/Li Wang Ming

Altitudes
1400 – 1600masl

Notes
black currant | passionfruit | dried cranberry | caramel

Man Fei Long Coffee Estate is located in the territory of Pu Wen Town in Xishuang Banna Prefecture in southern Yunnan. The estate is named after the nearby village called Man Fei Long, and the only mountain path leading to the estate is also called the Man Fei Long Line. In the local Dai language, Man Fei Long means a village with lush banyan trees, and also has a beautiful meaning of the endless life.

It is only 50 kilometres from Pu Wen to the estate, but it has to take two hours to get there. The narrow, unpaved path leads through a whole area of ancient forest which is also the wild Asian Elephant sanctuary. The coffee is grown on the steep slopes at the edge of these forests.

After passing through the forest and a few small villages, it comes to the Man Fei Long Estate, built on a hilltop in the middle of the mountains. The estate overlooks the nearby mountains, forests and coffee fields on all sides. At sunrise there is endless sea of clouds, and at sunset the wind whistles silently in from all directions.

Yang Lei, the owner, and Li Wangming, the person in charge, manage the estate that is like a remote and hidden gem. Coffee from Man Fei Long has a distinct bright and lively acidity and juicy sweetness. In addition to the excellent growing environment, climate and very large temperature difference between day and night, the enzyme bio-fertiliser formulated by the estate is also an important factor in helping the coffee grow.

This Super Natural Catimor is one of the results of Man Fei Long’s attempt to transform into specialty coffee production since 2016. The superior acidity, solid sweetness and carefully controlled fermentation result in zesty and tangy flavours that remind us of pineapple, yellow nectarine, and dried cranberries.