Honey So-ae: A Forest with Refined Taste

Bright acidity of lime peel, mellow sweetness of honey, a delicate astringency reminiscent of green tea, and a lingering aroma of dried fig.

Honey So-ae is a coffee with remarkable complexity. Every sip unfolds another layer of flavor, making you slow down—not because it's difficult to understand, but because you simply don't want the cup to end.

Its aftertaste is where the magic truly happens. Sweetness and acidity remain beautifully balanced, lingering together long after the last sip.

This is authentic Thai specialty coffee—one that many coffee lovers around the world would love to bring home, yet rarely have the opportunity to taste, as coffees like this are seldom exported outside Thailand.


A Coffee Born in the Forest
So-ae is a small Karen village located in Mae Tuen, Omkoi District, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Coffee has been cultivated here since the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), who encouraged highland communities to replace shifting cultivation and opium farming with sustainable coffee production. Some of the village's Typica trees are now over 30–40 years old, standing as living reminders of Thailand's early coffee history.

Blessed with a cool, humid climate throughout the year, the coffee trees mature slowly, developing exceptional sweetness and complexity in the cup.

Over the past decade, continuous improvements in cultivation and processing have transformed So-ae into one of Thailand's most respected specialty coffee origins. In 2025, a Honey Process coffee from So-ae earned 9th place at the Thailand Specialty Coffee Awards (TSCA), highlighting the remarkable potential of this unique terroir.


Crafted by Nature
This season, Preda selected both Washed and Honey Process coffees from So-ae, processed by Saranyoo Wanasomboon.

After roasting and cupping, we were immediately impressed.

The coffee is truly a product of the forest. The remote landscape preserves traditional shade-grown farming, where towering native trees naturally regulate temperature, humidity, and biodiversity. Every coffee cherry grows in harmony with its surrounding ecosystem, drawing its character directly from the forest itself.

The result is a cup that is elegant, layered, and incredibly smooth—a profile that is difficult to find anywhere, not only in Thailand but around the world.

Sometimes we can't help but think...

The forest of So-ae truly has a refined sense of taste.

Product Information

Origin: So-ae Village, Omkoi District, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Altitude: 1,200–1,400 MASL
Variety: Bourbon, Typica, Catimor
Process: Honey Process

Taste Notes
Honey • Lime Peel • Dried Fig • Green Tea