Since our first sip of this coffee back in Autumn 2019, we have been looking forward to getting it in stock at Ancoats. It surprised us from the get-go with its fruity brightness and high sweetness. In the cup the coffee is impressively balanced and clean, with acidity that reminds us of kiwis, dried fruit and blackberry jam, followed by a lingering aftertaste of cocoa powder. But this wasn’t the only thing that got us excited - this is a coffee that tells a story of positive social impact.

Until recently the village of Pha Yar Gyi Kone, like many others in the Ywangan region of Myanmar, relied heavily on opium as their main cash crop. In 2018 the Shwe Taung Thu farmers’ co-operative was formed. Their aim is to continue the work of local and international aid organisations, who had been providing support and incentives for the many local smallholder farms to make the switch to high value specialty coffee as a source of income. The co-op is made up of representatives from the local coffee-growing communities who work together to improve agricultural practices, provide education, and invest back into their communities. Recently, this included donating some of their profits to the local school and investing in new drying tables. The rates of opium cultivation and other high-risk sources of livelihood are now decreasing in Myanmar, as the country’s economy evolves and more opportunities for legitimate income arise.

Pha Yar Gyu Kone

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Pha Yar Gyu Kone

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