China News Service, Johannesburg, February 26th.
Question: Why are you optimistic about China-Africa coffee cultural exchanges?
——Exclusive interview with He Ming, a South African coffee culture expert
China News Service reporter Wang Xi
With the increasing depth and breadth of cultural exchanges between China and Africa, coffee culture, one of Africa's "specialties", has also spread across China and is loved by a large number of Chinese coffee "fans".
He Ming, a South African coffee culture expert and president of the Pretoria Fujian Association, has been committed to exchanges and cooperation in the field of coffee culture between China and Africa in recent years.
Recently, he accepted an exclusive interview with China News Service's "East-West Question" and talked about the development process, characteristics, and results of coffee cultural exchanges between China and Africa, and explained to readers why there are broad prospects for China-Africa coffee cultural exchanges and cooperation.
Data map: coffee.
Photo by Chen Chuhong
The interview transcript is summarized as follows:
Reporter from China News Service: Please briefly introduce the process of coffee cultural exchange between China and Africa.
He Ming:
Generally speaking, Africa is the birthplace of coffee and one of the most important coffee producing areas in the world.
The unique natural environment and altitude have made high-quality coffee grown in Africa favored by the market for a long time.
However, because Africa's overall economic development level is lagging behind, there are many circulation links, and procurement costs have remained high, resulting in a late start in China-Africa coffee cultural exchanges.
It was not until the 21st century that China-Africa coffee cultural exchanges achieved substantial development.
China is one of the fastest growing coffee markets in the world, and coffee trade is becoming an important part of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation. Therefore, coffee cultural exchanges between the two sides are developing rapidly.
Taking the coffee trade as a starting point, African non-resource products are accelerating their exports to China.
Especially with the China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance initiative and the release of the "Main Technical Standards for Chinese Coffee Cashew Cocoa Vanilla", coffee experts and business owners from China and Africa have seen the promotion of China-Africa cooperation in coffee technology and industrial chain. New opportunities for cooperation with the market and other aspects.
China News Service reporter: In your opinion, what are the characteristics of coffee cultural exchanges between China and Africa?
He Ming:
In some African countries, coffee is regarded as a cultural symbol symbolizing friendship, communication and sharing. Coffee is not only a commodity for Africa, but also represents the influence of African culture, history, baking skills and other aspects in the world. force.
The common characteristics of African coffee are rich aroma, with charming fruit acidity, and its acidity is bright, lively and exciting.
In fact, coffee is to Africa to some extent what tea is to China.
Relying on the strong appeal and radiation ability of the Chinese market, African coffee is expected to achieve a skyrocketing value.
Especially as modern consumers gradually become less price sensitive, they will pay more attention to the origin of coffee, coffee bean varieties and the story behind the brand, making coffee now not just a simple drink, but a kind of coffee with a special flavor. Diversified products with cultural social and lifestyle attributes.
In 2023, China-Africa trade volume will reach a historical peak of US$282.1 billion.
China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years.
Riding on the "east wind" of this momentum, African coffee culture is currently developing well in China.
I remember that in 2020, the strange news of "3,000 bags of Rwandan coffee sold out in one second" made African coffee regard the Chinese market as a "holy land".
Data map: On June 30, 2023, the 4th "African Coffee" Champion Barista Challenge was held in the Yuhua Block, Changsha Area, Hunan Free Trade Pilot Zone.
Photo by Dong Yuanjun
China News Service reporter: What are the current problems in coffee cultural exchanges between China and Africa?
He Ming:
First, Africa's overall economic development is still relatively backward, and basic industry and agriculture have been stagnant for a long time, which has seriously hindered the development of deep processing and other derivative products in Africa's coffee planting industry.
For example, in Sierra Leone, you can drink Arabica coffee of excellent quality, but the crude packaging has seriously affected the perception of Chinese consumers, resulting in unsalable exports. Second, the uncertainty of the situation in Africa has affected coffee and other exports. The transportation of products results in delays in delivery.
For example, the Red Sea has been affected by the international situation in recent times. Merchant shipping routes from African countries to China have been blocked, which has affected coffee exports. Third, the youthfulness of Chinese coffee lovers has triggered great innovations in taste and practice. However, the African coffee planting industry has not yet Being able to respond in a timely manner will undoubtedly affect the progress of the normal exchange of coffee cultures between the two parties.
Data map: coffee beans.
Photo by Cao Miaoxin
China News Service reporter: Why are you optimistic about the prospects of coffee cultural exchanges between China and Africa?
He Ming:
At present, relying on multiple platforms such as the China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Innovation Demonstration Park and the Yuhua Block in the Changsha Area of the Hunan Pilot Free Trade Zone, the establishment of the African Coffee Trading Center brings together Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, etc. Premium coffee beans from African countries, gradually creating a full industrial chain system integrating African coffee procurement, R&D and production, brand incubation, display and sales.
At the same time, the start and development of African e-commerce platforms will also allow more Chinese consumers to know the unique charm of African coffee without leaving home, benefiting the majority of African coffee growers.
Based on this, Chinese coffee practitioners can directly connect with African coffee planting cooperatives to achieve face-to-face communication, product selection, and order placement.
After the free trade zone was approved, the African non-resource products distribution and processing center and the African coffee trading center came into being.
I remember one time when I went back to China for a meeting and ordered a cup of hand-brewed coffee, but I didn’t expect that it was coffee beans from Ethiopia.
Later, when I inquired about it, I learned that African coffee, represented by Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, is gradually occupying an important share of coffee shops across China, and this number is expected to continue to expand.
It is conceivable that in the future, more and more African coffees will be presented to Chinese consumers more frequently and diversifiedly, and the diversity and high quality of their products will attract more fans.
I believe that the prospects for China-Africa coffee cultural exchanges are very broad.
(over)
Interviewee profile:
He Ming: He is a famous patriotic overseas Chinese leader in South Africa, president of the Pretoria Fujian Association, and a famous expert in the field of coffee culture. In recent years, he has been committed to the exchange of coffee culture between China and Africa.