Wild arabica grows on the Boma Plateau, recognised in 2021 as a second centre of origin. Commercial coffee is minimal and centred on Equatoria in the south.
South Sudan's Boma Plateau in the east holds wild Coffea arabica, and a 2021 study concluded that, alongside Ethiopia, it is a centre of origin of the species. These wild populations are genetically distinct from Ethiopian arabica, but their forest habitat has shrunk badly. Commercial production is minimal and conflict-hit, centred on Equatoria in the south, with Yei County a notable hub and robusta the widely grown crop.
History
Wild arabica on the Boma Plateau was first recorded in 1929 and confirmed in the 1930s-40s. A 2012 expedition sampled it, and a 2021 paper argued that Boma is a centre of origin alongside Ethiopia. Forest loss and conflict since then have prevented return visits, and commercial coffee exports remain minimal. Coffee has been grown in Yei County since the 1920s.
Field notes
- i
A 2021 genetic study found South Sudan's wild arabica to be distinct from Ethiopian arabica.
- ii
Wild lines known as Rume Sudan and Barbuk Sudan are preserved at CATIE in Costa Rica as genetic resources.
- iii
Conflict has held back wet mills, farmer participation and export sourcing.
- iv
Most South Sudanese households roast green coffee themselves, and most of the coffee they drink is imported from Uganda.
Where it growsBoma Plateau in the east holds wild arabica. Commercial coffee is centred on Equatoria in the south.
Regions of South Sudan
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Eastern plateau where wild arabica grows at roughly 1,200-2,200 m, genetically distinct from Ethiopian arabica. Its forest habitat has shrunk sharply.
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Southwestern county on the Congo and Uganda borders where coffee has grown since the 1920s, mostly robusta, with wet mills hit by conflict since 2016.
Varietals grown here
Sources · 4 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-11-10. Some details here are less settled than others.
- Validating South Sudan as a Center of Origin for Coffea arabica · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems (Krishnan et al., 2021)
- A coffee treasure found, and possibly lost again · World Coffee Research
- A guide to South Sudan's coffee sector · Perfect Daily Grind
- South Sudanese Coffee: A Tale of Resilience and Potential · Omwani