by Xinhua writers Ye Ting, Zhang Dan, Zhang Yujie

CHANGSHA, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- After working in the coffee industry for over 22 years, Jing Jianhua started his own Africa-themed cafe in the coffee street in Gaoqiao Grand Market of Changsha, central China's Hunan Province.

In the workshop of Shenghe Coffee, the roasting machine is humming, giving off the unique aroma of customized coffee beans transported from Ethiopia.

"The natural conditions such as the altitude, sunshine and temperature have created an unusual flavor of African coffee," Jing, founder of Shenghe Coffee, said while introducing the coffee like a work of art.

In 2017, Shenghe Coffee entered the Gaoqiao African Coffee Trade Center (Coffee Street). The center is listed in the first batch of projects of the China-Africa economic and trade cooperation promotion and innovation park at the market.

At present, the center has attracted more than 20 coffee traders, producers and brands, with an annual turnover of 800 million yuan (about 123.9 million U.S. dollars). Around 800 tonnes of African coffee beans are sold here annually.

The coffee street is home to coffee beans from Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and other African countries. It also serves as an exhibition and distribution center, as well as an incubation base for the coffee and tea industry.

This center helps bring together all the links in the China-Africa coffee industry chain and also makes the Gaoqiao Grand Market more export-oriented, said Xiao Xiangdong, an official with China (Hunan) Pilot Free Trade Zone. "Coffee trade is expected to account for 5 to 10 percent of all foreign trade transactions at the market this year."

"In the past, we could only purchase African coffee beans from traders in coastal cities like Shanghai. The procurement cycle was long, which affected the quality of the coffee, raised the cost and also made supply unstable," Jing said.

Gaoqiao Grand Market will organize an online trading platform for communication, evaluation and screening of coffee after the local agricultural cooperatives purchase coffee beans. They can place orders and sign contracts directly once the beans meet requirements. The cost can thus be reduced by about 30 percent, estimated Jing.

In 2018, Jing went to the coffee estates in Africa, where he visited local roasters, processing plants and cooperatives. He was also able to communicate with practitioners to fully understand the local coffee industry.

As a loyal coffee enthusiast, he hopes to promote African coffee in China so that the coffee trade between China and Africa can benefit more African growers.

On Sept. 26, the second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo opened in Changsha. On the same day, Jing's new cafe opened.

Wen Qian, who enjoyed a cup of coffee in Jing's cafe, said that the coffee street provides a window for Chinese consumers to immerse themselves in coffee making and tasting, and enhances people's understanding of African coffee culture.

"I have confidence in this industry and plan to open more chain stores to bring exotic African coffee closer to Chinese consumers," Jing said. Enditem

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