Alois Fassbind and Urs T. Brunner
show off Thai grown cofffee.
On Sunday, January 26, 1997, the 1st Thai Coffee Extravaganza
will take place in the Siam Ballroom of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Pattaya.
Admission is free.
The main reason to hold this exhibition and fun festival, as such, is to
increase awareness that Thailand is a coffee nation. Coffee in Thailand is grown
in the northern mountains around Chiang Mai and the southern hills in such
scenic provinces as Krabi.
Coffee originated in tropical Africa, from where it has been introduced into
most tropical countries throughout the world. Coffee was brought to Southeast
Asia and the West Indies in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The real coffee industry in Thailand is actually relatively young. In the 1960s,
to improve the trade balance, the Thai government started a successful campaign
promoting Robusta coffee growing in Southern Thailand, mainly in Surat Thani,
Ranong, Nakorn Si Thammarat, Pang-nga, and Krabi provinces. This campaign was
further cemented when opium crop replacement became an official Thai government
program in the 1970s. Supported by the Royal Family, the UN and many other
governmental and non-governmental organizations, the hill tribe farmers in the
Golden Triangle and along the borders with Burma and Laos started to grow
Arabica coffee, mainly in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Mae Hong Song, and
Tak. This makes Thailand one of the few coffee growing countries that can
actually grow both types of coffee.
Mr. Urs T. Brunner, Managing Director of Boncafe (Thailand) Ltd., the main
organizer of the Thai Coffee Extravaganza, said that many people who hear about
Thai coffee immediately think of “O-Leang”, which has become almost synonymous
with Thai coffee. Yet, in fact, “O-Leang” is better described as a sugar rather
than a coffee drink. The average “O-Leang” contains not more than 25% coffee.
The rest is sugar (40-50%) and coffee substitutes like sesame, corn and
soybeans.
Many coffee drinkers are astounded to learn that the “good” coffee they are
consuming in Thailand is actually grown here.
At the 1st Thai Coffee Extravaganza, all those who attend will be able to drink
coffee related hot and cold drinks and eat as many cakes and desserts as one
could possibly desire. Organizers will stage a Coffee Cocktail Show and a Coffee
Cake/Coffee Desserts Contest. A Miss Thai Coffee Queen ‘97 will be crowned.
Prizes will also be awarded to “The Fanciest Dressed Coffee Child”, and there
will be a Raffle with attractive door prizes, as well as an exhibition on coffee
- “From the Farm to the Cup”.
The deadline to fill in applications for the cake or dessert contest and for the
children’s fancy dress contest is January 15, 1997.
For those of you who like to bake and participate but have no facilities in your
home, Mr. Joachim Caula, Executive Pastry Chef of the Royal Cliff, promised to
help. First of all, he is holding a demonstration at the bakery of the Royal
Cliff on Friday, January 17, starting at 11:00 a.m. He will give people a hand
by suggesting recipes and showing them how to do it.
Second, on the 26th of January, the big event, or the day before, contestants
can bring their (prepared) cakes or desserts to Mr. Caula and he will bake them
in his bakery. Telephone first, at 250 421-40.
Great prizes are waiting the winners of the amateur baking competition: First
prize will be two tickets to Koh Samui with three nights at the Blue Lagune
Hotel, plus a diploma. Second Prize will be 2 nights in Chiang Mai at the Regent
Hotel, plus a diploma. Third prize will be 3 nights in Bangkok at the Rembrandt
Hotel, plus a diploma.
Applications are available at a) The Royal Cliff Beach Resort, tel: 250 121-40,
fax: 250 511 - contact Mr. Fassbind, Mr. Caula or Miss Claire. b) Mrs. Shirley
Rice, tel/fax: 424 593. c) Pattaya Mail, tel: 411241, fax: 427 596, or tel/fax:
374 267.
The culinary fun festival will be organized and sponsored by the Boncafe
(Thailand) Ltd., Allied walker Distributors (Thailand) Ltd., TAT, Thai Hotel
Association Eastern Chapter, Chaine des Rotisseurs Pattaya, Pattaya
International Ladies Club, Foster Wheeler & Ladies Club, Pattaya Mail, Rotary
Club of Jomtien/Pattaya, Hummel Co., Ltd., Nestle Dairy (Thailand) Co., Ltd.,
The Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Siam Havana Co., Ltd., S & P Syndicate Public Co.,
Ltd., Swiss Air Transport Co., Ltd., and Thai Airways International Public Co.,
Ltd.
