Learn more about Vietnam’s love affair with coffee.
Coffee is everywhere in Vietnam. You cannot stroll five minutes without coming across another outlet to savour a cup of the nation’s good stuff with endless choices scattered all over the country including Ho Chi Minh City. It could be said that coffee is the drug of choice for the Vietnamese. They need it like oxygen is needed to survive. Vietnam is the second biggest exporter of coffee in the world. It is big business. But what do we know about coffee in Vietnam?
1. The French played a role.
The French brought the crusty baguette to Vietnam, but in 1957 they also introduced coffee too. The first production was in 1969 where a staggering 80 tons were generated yearly.
2. Vietnam War slowed production down.
Production decelerated due to the Vietnam War. After the conflict agriculture was grouped together which proved to result in low production numbers. However as the economy was on its knees, the Communist Party changed tactic and in 1986 kick started the coffee industry by allowing private enterprises to set up shop again. This caused an increase in production of between 20 and 30 percent every year.
3. Coffee grew rapidly.
In the 1990s coffee production was really ramped up in Vietnam. In fact it increased by 20 to 30 percent employing over two and a half million people. It played a huge role in the economy helping to cut back on poverty by 50 percent.
4. It can be enjoyed in more than one form.
Coffee in Vietnam can be drunk in a variety of ways. Served on a bed of ice, with a slurp of condensed milk, with an egg added to it or even by roasting the excreted beans of civets (a variant of weasel) who have been fed the coffee beans.
5. Robusta beans are produced.
Vietnam produces the robusta as opposed to the arabica bean. There is three times the quantity of caffeine in a robusta bean making it more bitter in taste. It is also more suspectabile to disease.
6. Global market.
Vietnam’s coffee has a worldwide audience. Germany, the US, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Japan, South Korea, Poland, France and the UK make up the biggest importers.
