Doi Tung coffee
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| name = Doi Tung coffee
| image = Logo of the Doi Tung Development Project.png
| type = Coffee
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| introduced = Thailand
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| colour = Brown
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Doi Tung Coffee is a varietal of Coffea arabica grown in northern Thailand.
History
The Doi Tung varietal of coffee emerged from Thai opium replacement efforts starting in the late 1980s. The mountainous region around Mount Doi Tung in northern Thailand was a very poor, struggling region in which many of the local people made their living by growing opium to sell to Burmese traders.Promchertchoo, Pichayada, [https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/from-one-addiction-to-another-thailand-s-ethnic-minorities-quit-10067168 "From One Addiction to Another: Thailand's Ethnic Minorities Quit Opium for Coffee"], Channel News Asia, 24 March 2018 Princess Srinagarindra took an interest in the region, and a development project was set up under which local residents were given land-use titles and encouraged to grow coffee and macadamia nuts.Chandran, Rina, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-landrights-coffee/a-new-high-indigenous-thai-farmers-swap-opium-for-coffee-land-idUSKCN1SL007 "A New High: Indigenous Thai Farmers Swap Opium for Coffee, Land"] A chain of coffee shops using the Doi Tung name was opened to market Doi Tung coffee to Thais.Jitpleecheep, Pitsinee, [https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1359535/doi-tung-moving-forward-with-coffee-export-expansion "Doi Tung Moving Forward With Coffee Export Expansion"], Bangkok Post, 13 November 2017 As production increased, Doi Tung coffee began to be marketed for export. Starting 1 December 2018, it began to be served on Japan Airlines flights,[https://www.thaibaan-seo.com/menu-coffee "Chiang Rai's Doi Tung Coffee will now be served on Japan Airline flights"]{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Chiang Rai Times, 23 November 2018 and plans are being made to enter the United States market.
Characteristics and processing
The Doi Tung varietal is a cross of several hybrids: Catimor, Caturra, and Catuai. It is grown within the Nang Non mountain range in Chiang Rai Province, at an elevation of approximately 800-1200 meters. It is described as having "a unique well-balanced taste with fruity sweet frangrance/overtones, generous acidity without sharpness, and a medium body."[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2014:048:0014:0018:EN:PDF "Kafae Doi Tung"], PGI document from the European Union The coffee beans are processed and roasted locally in the growing region, rather than being sold green for processing elsewhere.[http://www.doitung.org/sald_economic_coffee.php?Lang=en#coffee "Doi Tung Development Project"]
Protected Geographic Indication (PGI)
The Thai government granted a geographical indication to Doi Tung coffee in 2006. The government further applied for PGI status with the European Union in May 2010, which was granted, making Doi Tung coffee the second Thai product (after 'Hom Mali' rice) to hold such status in the EU.[https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/623400/2-thai-coffee-brands-win-eu-geographic-trademarks "2 Thai Coffee Brands Win EU Geographic Trademarks"], Bangkok Post, 15 July 2015