Coffee Stories 16 January 2026

Welcoming the Year of the Horse with China, Banka

A New Year, A New Cycle: Understanding the Chinese Zodiac

Every year, millions of people across the world gather to celebrate the Lunar New Year, a time of reflection, celebration, and fresh beginnings. Unlike the fixed date of 1 January in the Gregorian calendar, the Chinese New Year follows the lunar cycle, meaning the date shifts each year based on the new moon. In 2026, the celebration begins on 17 February, marking the start of a new zodiac cycle, the Year of the Horse 🐎.

Each year in the 12-animal Chinese zodiac carries its own energy, symbolism, and personality, and the Horse is one of the most dynamic. The horse is all about movement, energy, and forward momentum. It’s bold. Adventurous. Never one to stay still for long. People born in a horse year are thought to be driven, independent, and full of charisma, a spirit we love and relate to, especially when it comes to coffee.

At Kiss the Hippo, we see the New Year as a chance to celebrate what’s new, unexpected, and full of possibility, and this year, that spirit is perfectly captured in a coffee from a place that’s still unknown to many coffee lovers: China. We’re kicking off 2026 not with something familiar, but with something bold, exciting, and quietly revolutionary.

China’s Quiet Coffee Revolution

Coffee may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of China—but that’s exactly what makes its story so compelling. While the country’s history stretches back thousands of years, coffee is a relatively recent chapter. It began in the late 1800s, when French missionaries planted the first seeds in Yunnan. For decades, coffee remained on the sidelines—until a major push in the late 1980s, backed by the Chinese government, the UN, and the World Bank, kickstarted commercial production. Today, nearly all of China’s coffee grows in Yunnan, a breathtakingly diverse province more famous for tea, tropical forests, and snow-capped peaks than espresso. But over the past decade, a quiet revolution has taken root. Small farms, innovative producers, and passionate local communities are transforming China into one of the most exciting emerging origins in specialty coffee. It’s unexpected. It’s inspiring. And it’s only just beginning.

Yunnan: China’s Hidden Gem for Coffee

When you think of great coffee origins, China probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind. But that’s exactly what makes it so exciting. In the lush, mountainous province of Yunnan, something remarkable has been taking shape, and it’s starting to turn heads across the specialty coffee world.

Located in the far southwest of the country, Yunnan borders Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. The region’s high elevations, distinct wet and dry seasons, and subtropical climate make it a surprisingly ideal place to grow coffee. Over the past decade, thanks to passionate farmers, innovative producers, and quality-focused traders, Yunnan has gone from under-the-radar to one of the most promising emerging origins in the world.

Right at the heart of this movement is Banka, a remote, beautiful area in the Menglian Dai, Lahu, and Va Autonomous County. Surrounded by rolling green hills and home to generations of family farms, Banka is where tradition and innovation meet. It’s home to a 100-hectare farm and processing station run by Yunnan Coffee Traders, a group deeply invested in producing quality coffee through sustainable practices and close collaboration with local smallholders.

Here, everything is done with intention, from selective handpicking to advanced sorting and experimental fermentation techniques. The result is coffee that’s not only beautifully expressive, but also entirely unlike anything else in your cup.

Banka isn’t just a place. It’s a signal, that China is ready to take its place on the global specialty coffee stage.

Introducing China, Banka

To mark the Chinese New Year, we’re thrilled to share something truly unique: a coffee from Banka, Yunnan, produced by the trailblazing team at Yunnan Coffee Traders.

The farm and washing station sit at 1,350 metres, surrounded by tropical greenery and cooled by highland breezes, perfect conditions for growing coffee. Ripe Catimor cherries are sourced from local smallholders and processed using both washed and natural methods.

What really sets Banka apart is its commitment to innovation. We’re talking yeast fermentations, optical sorters, selective harvesting, and an obsessive focus on quality and sustainability. The result is a cup that’s sweet, fruity, and beautifully balanced, with the kind of clarity and character that stops you mid-sip.

If you’ve never tried coffee from China before, this is the one to start with. It’s vibrant, elegant, and full of surprises, just like the season we’re celebrating.

IndoChina

“We source all our Chinese specialty coffees through Indochina Coffee, an independent, family run business founded by Shirani Gunawardena and Christian Steenberg.

Their journey began in Bangkok in 2015, where they discovered the incredible skill and dedication of coffee growing communities across Southeast Asia. Struck by the rarity of these origins in the UK, they returned to London to bridge the gap bringing the best of the region to the global stage.

But Indochina Coffee is about more than just sourcing; it’s about equity. In an industry where wealth often bypasses the growers, Indochina works to ensure that specialty coffee genuinely improves the lives of farmers and their families. Since 2017, they have maintained long term, respectful partnerships with the same producers. By spending time on the ground during every harvest, Shirani and Christian ensure that every bean we roast supports a fairer, more transparent future for coffee.” - Kane, Head of Coffee
China, Banka

China, Banka

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