KUCHING: A new coffee hybrid found in Sarawak can potentially position the state as a globally significant producer of a climate resilient and commercially viable crop.
Researchers found that the coffee grown in Sarawak, commonly thought to be Liberica, is actually a naturally occurring hybrid between Coffea liberica and Coffea dewevrei (Excelsa).
The hybrid was formally proposed as Coffea × libex, or Libex coffee, in a paper co-authored by local coffee specialist Kenny Lee and Aaron P. Davis of London’s Kew Gardens and other experts, which was published in Scientific Reports in May.
“The significance of this discovery lies in the fact that Sarawak has emerged as one of the world’s largest concentration areas for Libex cultivation, bringing international attention to Sarawak’s coffee industry,” Lee said.
“It also raises the international profile of Sarawak coffee and increases the value and recognition of Sarawak-grown Libex.”
The study, which analysed 113 coffee samples from three continents, found that 40 out of 45 samples from Sarawak showed measurable Excelsa genetic contribution.
It highlighted several promising advantages of Libex coffee, including higher yield, improved processing efficiency, adaptability to wider climate conditions and apparent resistance to coffee leaf rust disease.
Primarily cultivated by indigenous communities in Sarawak, this hybrid is said to offer a “smoother and more balanced flavour profile” than traditional Liberica.
“Libex may provide an excellent model for coffee cultivation in hot, low-altitude tropical environments. At a time when traditional high-altitude coffee-growing regions are facing increasing pressure from climate change, this has potential global significance,” Lee said.
The research began in 2016 when Lee noticed that the “Liberica” grown in Sarawak was different from what was cultivated in Peninsular Malaysia.
He began collecting samples from farms across Sarawak, which eventually became part of the study.
“If farmers are to invest the next 30 years cultivating these trees, how could we not know what they actually are?” he said.
Meanwhile, Davis spent nearly three years conducting fieldwork in Sarawak, including two expeditions across the upper Baram area.
In terms of flavour, Lee said Libex has a more balanced profile for contemporary consumers, sitting somewhere between Liberica and Arabica.
“It often displays notes of chocolate, nuts, dried tropical fruits and a pleasant sweet woody character, while maintaining a fuller body than many Arabica coffees,” he said.
He also said Sarawak’s Libex coffee has already entered specialty markets in Europe, China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and Thailand.
With support from the state Agriculture Department, Sarawak is also emerging as the world’s leading Libex-producing region.
“Looking ahead, we hope that different Libex variants found across Sarawak can be further studied, selected and developed into distinct cultivars with stronger commercial value and market identity,” Lee said.
