Does Cambodia Robusta Honey Process Actually Hit SCA 80+ for Specialty Blend Buyers?

Cambodia robusta honey process from Mondulkiri province is generating verified SCA 80.5–83.0 scores, qualifying under CQI Fine Robusta Class 1 and opening direct procurement channels for specialty blend developers in the EU and North America.

Origin Profile: Mondulkiri's Robusta Belt

Mondulkiri sits in northeastern Cambodia, bordering Vietnam's Central Highlands along the Sesan River watershed. Elevations range 600–900 m; mean annual temperature at 700 m is approximately 22 °C — 3–4 °C cooler than the Mekong lowlands. Annual rainfall averages 1,800–2,200 mm (May–October), with a dry harvest window from November through February.

The dominant cultivar is *Coffea canephora* var. *robusta*, introduced by French colonial planters in the early 1900s. Smallholder plots average 1–3 hectares on red basaltic laterite soils, which underpin the dark-chocolate and earthy base notes typical of Mondulkiri lots. Kofi, the primary processor in Sen Monorom, aggregates cherry from approximately 200 registered farmers using selective picking protocols requiring Brix ≥18° at harvest.

Honey Process Mechanics & Cup Profile

After hand-picking, cherries are floated to remove sub-density defects (rejection rate 8–12% by weight). Pulping retains 30–50% mucilage (Yellow Honey classification); beans are spread on raised bamboo beds at 4–5 kg/m² and turned every 4–6 hours for the first 72 hours. Total drying runs 18–25 days; export moisture target is 11.5–12.0% (±0.5%), verified by Kett PM-450 meters.

CQI-certified Q Graders document cup notes of dark chocolate, tamarind, dried longan, and syrupy body with low-to-medium acidity. SCA scores for export-grade lots range 80.5–83.0; top micro-lots reached 83.5 in 2023 harvest evaluations. Defect counts average 8–12 full defects per 300 g sample, within CQI Fine Robusta Class 1 tolerance (≤15). Caffeine content is approximately 2.2–2.7% dry weight. At 20–25% blend ratios with washed Ethiopian or Colombian Arabica, these beans reduce green cost by an estimated 15–20% per kg.

B2B Procurement SOP & Compliance

FOB Sihanoukville pricing for SCA 80+ honey-processed Mondulkiri Robusta ranges USD 4.20–5.80/kg green; CIF Hamburg or Rotterdam adds USD 0.35–0.55/kg per 20-foot FCL (≈18–19 MT). MOQ starts at 1 MT for spot trial lots and 5 MT for forward harvest contracts. Lead time from PO to CIF European port is 45–65 days.

Sampling SOP: request a 500 g pre-shipment green sample plus 200 g roasted reference, both nitrogen-sealed. Independent Q Grade verification at an SCA-licensed European lab is recommended before LC issuance.

EUDR Note: Cambodia is standard-risk under EUDR. Buyers must obtain GPS plot coordinates, a deforestation-free declaration post-31 December 2020, and full chain-of-custody documentation. Non-compliance exposes EU importers to fines up to 4% of annual EU turnover (EUDR Article 25). Aflatoxin testing to EC Regulation 1881/2006 limits (≤10 µg/kg) via ISO 17025-accredited lab is mandatory for all Cambodian coffee entering the EU.

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Faq

Q1: What SCA score range is realistic for Cambodia robusta honey process?

Verified Mondulkiri export lots score SCA 80.5–83.0; strict micro-lots can reach 83.5. Treat any claim above SCA 84 with scepticism until confirmed by an independent Q Grader.

Q2: What is the MOQ for a trial shipment from Mondulkiri?

Leading Mondulkiri exporters accept 1 MT trial lots with pre-shipment samples; forward contracts typically require 5 MT minimum to lock a specific harvest lot.

Q3: Is EUDR documentation available from Mondulkiri exporters?

Kofi has begun GPS-mapping its 200-farmer network. Confirm plot-level geolocation data and deforestation-free declarations are complete before contracting any 2026 or 2027 harvest volumes.