About the Coffee
In the highlands of Mangshi, Dehong, Olina–Caicai and her processing team carefully handpick only fully ripe red coffee cherries. This year’s most significant upgrade is the exclusive selection of cherries grown at elevations of 1,600 metres and above, bringing greater clarity, structure and refinement to the cup.
Following selection, the cherries are placed in anaerobic fermentation tanks and inoculated with a patented yeast strain. They ferment for 30 days at a controlled temperature of 12°C, allowing the yeast to interact gradually with the fruit’s natural sugars and develop greater complexity.
After fermentation, the coffee is thoroughly washed with fresh mountain water before being sun-dried on raised beds for 15–30 days. The resulting cup reveals rose and peach-like florals, bright acidity, lychee sweetness and a refreshing oolong-tea finish—an expressive reflection of Yunnan’s high-altitude terroir and the dedication of Olina–Caicai’s team.
About
Yunyun Nannan
Project One Light Yunnan Coffee Plan - By YunYunNanNan
Project One Light (POL) is a specialised Yunnan coffee sourcing and processing initiative based in the heart of Yunnan. Founded in 2021 by Olina Cai (Yatong Cai), a local resident with more than five years of experience in the specialty tea and coffee sector, they are committed to bringing the distinct character of Yunnan coffee to the world.
Their team consists of local Q-graders, coffee processing specialists and experienced coffee traders. They operate with a strong belief in fair trade, placing the wellbeing of everyone in their supply chain at the forefront. Ethical practices, empowerment of producers, careful management of the growing environment and rigorous quality control ensure consistently high-quality cherries and safe, reliable processing.
A core part of their mission is the steady and sustainable improvement of Yunnan coffee quality, and they are driven by a desire to share this journey internationally.
This project is not only about sourcing exceptional coffee from Yunnan, it is about reshaping the future of the people and places behind it. At its heart is a commitment to empower individual farmers who have long produced outstanding coffee yet remained unseen in the global market. By spotlighting their craftsmanship and connecting them directly with higher-value buyers, the project helps them gain both the recognition and economic return they genuinely deserve.
At the same time, it serves as an exploration of Yunnan’s hidden gems, its remote villages, unique micro-terroirs, and lesser-known producers whose coffees have never had the platform to shine. Rather than focusing solely on established estates, the initiative actively seeks out overlooked regions and untapped potential, bringing new voices and flavours into the conversation.
Ultimately, this project aims to build a fairer, more diverse representation of Yunnan coffee, one that celebrates individual growers, uplifts rural communities, and uncovers the undiscovered excellence scattered across the province.
