Cimizhu Estate – Po Zha

Region: Ximeng, Yunnan, China
Producer: Po Zha
Farm: Cimizhu Estate
Elevation: 1,100–1,500 MASL
Variety: Catimor
Process: Washed
Roast: Light
Recommended Rest: 4–6 weeks from roast date
Size: 8oz / 227g

TASTES LIKE

🌿 Lemongrass – fresh and aromatic herbal brightness
🍐 Asian Pear – crisp, clean sweetness with delicate juiciness
🍂 Yunnan Red Tea – refined structure and gentle tannins

ABOUT THIS COFFEE & PRODUCER

Nestled in the mountainous Ximeng region of Yunnan, Cimizhu Estate was founded in 2007 by Po Zha, a Lahu community leader and former soldier whose vision transformed local agriculture. At a time when coffee was virtually unknown in the area, Po Zha encouraged neighbouring families to plant coffee trees, teaching them cultivation, pruning, and harvesting techniques.

His dedication laid the foundation for Ximeng’s first large-scale specialty coffee estate, creating stable income and opportunity for local growers. Benefiting from consistent rainfall and dramatic temperature swings between day and night, the cherries here mature slowly and evenly—developing sweetness and clarity unique to this pocket of Yunnan.

For post-harvest processing, Cimizhu partners with Huangguan Coffee Co., whose local wet mill ensures careful sorting, fermentation, and washing to maintain exceptional quality from cherry to green coffee.

WHY WE SELECTED THIS COFFEE

This coffee marks an exciting milestone for us—our very first release from China. It’s a testament to the incredible work being done by producers like Po Zha, who are elevating Chinese coffee to the global specialty stage through precision, perseverance, and passion.

The result is a clean, balanced, and nuanced washed coffee that captures the distinct character of Yunnan’s terroir. Aromas of lemongrass announce themselves with vibrancy, giving way to a crisp sweetness of Asian pear on the palate. The finish is elegant and structured, evoking the refined tannins and gentle warmth of red tea.

This is a coffee that not only expands our sense of place in the world of coffee but also celebrates the emergence of Yunnan as one of the most compelling and promising origins in Asia.