Myanmar Micro Mill Project
Although we haven't been able to introduce it until now, a project started last year.
This project was made possible through a trading company (
Umi no Mukou Coffee), and its outline is as follows:
The project aims to "build a micro-mill (a small coffee processing plant)" with coffee farmers in Ywangan, Shan State, Myanmar.
By creating a micro-mill, farmers in each village, who previously only sold coffee cherries, will be able to
process the coffee themselves.
The processed product can be sold with added value compared to raw coffee cherries, which
leads to increased income.
Furthermore, each village will be able to produce its own unique coffee. This means we can introduce these as micro-lots that reflect the unique feelings of the producers in each village and possess the distinctive flavors of that village.
The village where BASE COFFEE's sponsored funds will be used is Mindwin Village.
Mindwin Village is a small village with 50 households. Among them, Han Ngwe Thein, who is actively cultivating coffee, along with three other households, will be in charge of management.
BASE COFFEE will establish a micro-mill in Mindwin Village, Myanmar, to help increase farmers' incomes and enable us to source higher quality Myanmar coffee than ever before. We are immensely grateful to the trading company and Ngwe Tun, the founder of Genius Coffee Myanmar and the originator of this project, for creating such a win-win-win situation.
▼Processing machine
Myanmar's Situation
There was no way we couldn't participate in such a great project, so we applied at the end of 2020. Just as we were looking forward to it, a coup d'état occurred in Myanmar (February 1, 2021).
As it was often reported in Japanese media, I believe you are all aware of it.
Having become more involved in the project, I had been diligently studying Myanmar, so I was very worried. Even if the project didn't proceed, I wished for the safety of the farmers.
Amidst this, about a month later, I received the following message:
Currently, protests are continuing in Ywangan, and not only townspeople but also coffee farmers from various villages are participating in the protests. Unlike other regional cities, firearms are not used here in Ywangan, and the protests are very peaceful, so everyone is safe. In Ywangan as a whole, everyone lives on a rhythm of working 3 days a week and protesting 4 days a week. Coffee farmers also grow vegetables and rice, and collection agents come irregularly to collect them and transport them to a market called Aungban, so circulation is moving, albeit irregularly.
Working while protesting... it was a situation that was hard to imagine. However, I also learned that the project was still progressing. I am more determined than ever to sell this coffee properly, have customers enjoy it, and then use that as a resource to give back to Myanmar, and then back to Japan... Our goal is for this cycle to keep revolving. Therefore, BASE COFFEE will continue to promote and sell this coffee to ensure its sustainability.
Finally, green beans arrived
As the photo shows, green coffee beans from Myinn Dwin Village arrived in burlap bags with the BASE COFFEE logo.
These green beans arrived after various circumstances.
After roasting them...
They are incredibly delicious.
Compared to last year's Myanmar Ywangan coffee (which was from the region rather than specific villages at the time of sale on September 20, 2021), the transparency has increased, and the flavors are cleaner.
Through this micro-mill project, the processing methods requested by BASE COFFEE are:
・【Natural】※Click here for the product page
・【Red Honey】※Click here for the product page
These are the two types mentioned above!
This is a special lot made by only four producers in Mindwin Village.
It's a coffee where you want to savor everything, from the taste to the story.
Origin Introduction
Given the current situation, it's unlikely I'll be able to visit the origin, but I'd like to share the photos I've received.
→ The birth of the BASE COFFEE micro-mill. Here, cherries are processed and sent to BASE COFFEE.
↑ Han Ngwe Thein, the leader of Mindwin Village. I'd love to meet him soon.
↑ African bed. Farmers reportedly build these themselves.
↑ Actual drying process
→ Coffee cherries that have ripened in Mindwin Village. While these are common photos of cherries, seeing them from Mindwin Village makes them appear even better. (Since this photo was taken just after ripening, there are some green ones mixed in.)
↑ I couldn't pinpoint Mindwin Village on the map... It's marked for the general area of Ywangan until I can actually visit and place a marker.
For this project, the sponsored funds were apparently used to purchase [one engine-driven pulper] and [a moisture meter].
While I wish I had an engine-driven pulper myself (though I have no use for it), I intend to continue supporting the coffee from Mindwin Village. So, everyone, please continue your support as well.
In the future, I hope BASE COFFEE can even plan origin tours (a distant dream).
