" Zhuo Wu Mountain Coffee Farm," selected as No. 1 in Taiwan's first PCA in 2021, broke the record of the highest bid price per pound at the global auction at that time as well. As a result, Taiwanese specialty coffee became popular once again and garnered much attention on the global stage. According to Hsu Ting-Yeh, his family planted tea before. In 2000, he decided to start growing coffee. Currently, the varieties cultivated in the farm are SL34, purple leaf mutation of SL34, Yellow Bourbon, and Geisha. The characteristic of the purple leaf mutation of SL34 is that the young leaves are purple. After DNA testing, it was confirmed to be a mutated species.
Over the past 21 years, Hsu has collected a lot of coffee cultivation experience. He emphasizes that all lands have unique properties. For example, different mountains have different elevations, planting directions, and independent microclimates. Each element affects coffee flavor. Even if the same variety of SL-34 is planted at the same altitude from the north to the south of Alishan, the flavor will still be completely different. This is because of the power of nature, which creates differences in the growing environment, soil properties, etc. On top of that, different farm management methods also contribute to such dissimilarities.
HSU said that Zhuo Wu Mountain Coffee Farm received good results in the first PCA. However, he didn't think too much at that moment. It was the first international specialty coffee auction event in Taiwan. His only determination was to present the coffee beans that he liked after cupping by himself. This small batch of Natural Geisha was selected as No. 1 in PCA. This time, he would hold the same belief and attitude to face the challenges of the 2nd PCA.
PCA provides a larger stage to assist specialty coffee growers in Taiwan. This event offers a chance to clarify their positions in the international market and find a production model that suits the climate of their farms, said HSU. Taiwan cannot compete against other coffee production areas on the international market with plantation area and production volume; however, delicacy sheds a light for us. With appropriate climate, variety and suitable cultivation techniques, we can pave a path to international market. HSU has an ultimate dream: one day, his own coffee beans can be as well-known as Panama's Geisha.
