DoiTung coffee is a geographically geographical indication (GI) coffee produced in Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand, under the Doi Tung Development Project (DTDP) run by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage.
Production Area and Geographical Indication
The production area for DoiTung coffee is the Doi Tung Development Project Area, located between Amphur Mae Fah Luang and Amphur Mae Suai in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. This area is located at a relatively high elevation suitable for growing Coffea arabica coffee plants, and boasts suitable annual average temperatures and diurnal temperature variations. The coffee is grown in designated areas and facilities designated by the foundation.
DoiTung coffee is registered with Thai geographical indications and is listed among Japan's geographical indication products under registration number 138. Its protection date is July 20, 2023. Unlike Coffea robusta, the main coffee variety produced in Thailand, the coffee is cultivated primarily using seedlings of Catimor and other Coffea arabica varieties.
Production Process and Quality Control
Coffee beans are harvested after the planting area is monitored and the appropriate harvest time is confirmed by the producer and the foundation manager. The harvested beans are brought to the storage area designated by the foundation within the specified timeframe. During the quality control process, beans that are immature, damaged by pests, broken, rotten, dry, or in clusters are visually inspected and removed. The selected beans are washed, purified, and processed using a washing method at a processing facility designated by the foundation. Shipping standards allow for the shipment of raw coffee beans, ground coffee, and roasted coffee beans prepared at a roasting facility designated by the foundation.
Social and Economic Impact
The Doi Tung Coffee Project was initiated under the Doi Tung Development Project (DTDP), administered by the Thai royal family, to help local people transition from opium poppy cultivation to coffee production. In 1998, coffee cultivation accounted for a significant portion of DTDP's total revenue, demonstrating the establishment of coffee as a crop that improves the lives of people and the natural environment in the region. The project has received international praise and was accredited by the UNODC in 2001 for its contribution to drug eradication. The coffee commands a premium in Thai markets compared to regular coffees of the same variety and is also imported to Japan.
