Cambodian Coffee vs El Salvador Coffee: Heirloom Bourbon Meets a New Robusta Story

Short answer: El Salvador's civil-war-era disruption inadvertently preserved an unusually high share of heirloom Bourbon variety trees, now prized by specialty buyers. Cambodia's Robusta plantings are recent, without that heirloom heritage.

A country frozen in Bourbon variety time

Many farms simply weren't replanted during and after the war. Cambodia's plantings are modern Robusta varieties.

Recovery narrative versus early growth

El Salvador's story is rediscovery; Cambodia's is fresh development.

High-altitude volcanic terrain

El Salvador's volcanic slopes suit Arabica; Cambodia's lower, warmer highlands suit Robusta.

Faq

Why does El Salvador have so much old Bourbon? War-era disruption halted replanting. Is its industry fully recovered? Significant specialty rediscovery, though still smaller than neighbors. Does Cambodia have comparable heirloom coffee? No. Arabica or Robusta? El Salvador is almost entirely Arabica.

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