Yunnan coffee has been known for hundreds of years, and it all started when a French priest brought a coffee sprout into what is now Zhu Ku La village, Binchuan District, Dali City, Yunnan. This small sprout rooted itself deep into the Chinese culture, and this century-old coffee tree still stands tucked away in the mysterious and peaceful village. Nowadays, the main coffee-growing areas within this region are Pu'er, Baoshan, and Dehong.

Pu'er 普洱: If you are a tea lover, you will certainly have heard this name, as this tea takes its name from the homonym city. However, in recent years Pu'er is not only the capital of Yunnan tea but also of Yunnan coffee. 

Baoshan 保山: The main variety of Yunnan coffee is arabica, known locally as Yunnan Xiaoli Coffee, originated in Baoshan from 1950.

Dehong prefecture 德宏: Well-known for its organic coffee plantations.

In March 2011, the Development and Reform Commission of Yunnan and the Yunnan Department of Agriculture established the Yunnan Coffee Industry Development Plan (2010-2020). It aims to lift Yunnan up to be the capital of quality coffee and the center of Chinese coffee industry. By 2015, Yunnan has 66,667 hectares of coffee farms and will increase to 100,000 hectares by 2020.