Who doesn't know Thailand? With the cosmopolitan and vibrant city of Bangkok, the touristy Phuket, the green mountains around the towns of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, the white sandy beaches of the islands of Samui and Tao, just to name a few destinations. How can one resist the charm of Thailand? One is captivated by the countless smiles of the local people, the good food, the mystical landscapes, and the numerous magnificent Buddhist temples.
But today’s story takes place far from the most renowned tourist spots in Thailand. I went to Ranong province, to Kraburi, in the South of the country to taste Mr. Gong's coffee. Yes, who would have thought that one could find high-quality organic coffee in Thailand? Mostly one hundred percent Robusta, the variety loved by us Italians.
Just arrived in the "Gong valley," I meet the founder Gong, who starts telling me his story between one cup of coffee and another. Originally from Bangkok, and after several trips to Europe and around the world, Gong decides to return to his homeland in search of an idea that will allow him to enhance and make the local economy self-sufficient.
Everything begins with his own observation: the inhabitants of Kraburi consume a high amount of instant soluble coffee, despite the presence of high-quality coffee beans. Kraburi is indeed located at the same latitude as coffee-producing countries such as Colombia, Kenya, and Brazil.
The experiment begins with Gong roasting some local Robusta coffee beans in the traditional cast iron pan known as wok. The excellent potential of the product is confirmed to him by an Italian bartender he met during a previous trip to Italy, and after Marino gives the green light, Gong gains the trust to embark on his new project.
The next goal is to convey the same enthusiasm to the local farmers, which he does by going from village to village equipped with local coffee beans and
Some Italian moka pots
The intention is to encourage the local community to drink a good coffee produced locally instead of the classic instant coffee purchased at the supermarket and to make them believe they can be proud to produce a one hundred percent Thai coffee, which can compete with other Robusta varieties present in the market.
After a few years since the start of his project, nowadays Gong is the founder of the agricultural cooperative in Ranong, made up of about 19,000 families.
The coffee is grown by the same families, along with other local fruits and vegetables. The coffee berries are hand-picked, roasted, and ground following a traditional method. I am amazed and delighted when Gong, smiling, presents me with a wok signed 'Gong valley' with which I can roast and then later grind the coffee beans I will drink myself. Here, the coffee is roasted at one hundred eighty degrees for about twenty minutes.
As a true coffee lover, I can confirm that it is one of the best I have had so far. Bold and intense flavor, dark coloration, and a slightly bitter aftertaste, typical of the Robusta variety, with less sugar than Arabica. I feel almost at home!
Not only is Gong coffee the result of ethical and sustainable production, but its cultivation method is entirely organic and waste-free.
The flowers of coffee plants are used to make a cold brew
With a delicate and floral taste, perfect to accompany coffee. This is how we savor one coffee after another after a visit to the fields, along with traditional hot rice flour breads called mantou.
I am not the only one who has come here to learn about the history of Gong's coffee; the authenticity of this charismatic Thai character and his product attracts customers from all over the world, and despite this, Gong maintains the same humility and frankness as always; the motto behind his success is as follows:
"People lie, but a good coffee never lies"
"People may lie, but a good coffee never lies" Mr Gong.
