About Us
The Shwe Ywa Ngan story
Gold = “Shwe”, “Ywa Ngan” = location of the coffee (actual given name)
“Gold” Ywa Ngan signifies a precious area producing a treasured product. The name was given by the owner (Ms. Su Nandar Linn)’s father, Mr. U Win Aung Kyaw.
Ywa Ngan is in Taunggyi District, Shan State. It is also a part of the Danu Self-Administered Zone. It is the centre of small-scale coffee farming in Myanmar with 75% of rural households growing coffee; over 3,000 hectares in production.
Mr. U Win Aung Kyaw grew up in Mogok, north of Mandalay, once known as the “land of rubies” as the source of the highest quality rubies in the world. While the promise of riches attract intrepid gemstone explorers, the newly married couple decided on a safer life in Shan State.
When they married in 1975, Mr. U Win Aung Kyaw, and his wife, Mrs. Daw San San Htay, became coffee traders for an international trader from Chile and Taiwan.
Coffee growth in Myanmar
It was during this period that coffee was seen as an important export earner bringing land management benefits to an eroded landscape. In 1998, the Myanmar Government offered long-term land leases to grow coffee.
The couple rented land in Ywa Ngan to grow coffee and macadamia nuts. After a year, they decided to buy the piece of fertile land. It was here they learnt that the area was a true gem, or shwe, as they like to say, “gold”.
Their business was always founded in a joint manner between husband and wife. He traded coffee from many villages and was known as a fair man and a gentleman, guided by his wife, the businesswoman.
Second generation
Their daughter, Ms. Su Nandar Linn, studied in Mandalay, completing a BA English in 2017. She is the oldest of four children. Her childhood was poor; it was a struggle to put food on the table and earn money growing coffee. This experience inspires and drives her.
In 2016, Su Nandar trained as a Q Grader. She was inspired to improve coffee quality as well build local specialty coffee expertise and market knowledge.
Her passion to take coffee seriously led her to join the Winrock International Project, Value Chains for Rural Development project (VCRD). Su took full opportunity to upgrade her skills, attending workshops and working with specialists in the coffee fields.
Having grown up on a coffee farm, Su likes to get her hands dirty, work directly with the soil and learn side by side with farming experts. Her interest is in integrating smallholder and rural households into competitive commercial value chains to increase productivity and inclusive agricultural growth.
Coffee business
Su is very driven and passionate, seeing no obstacles, only opportunities. In no time, she had formalized her parents’ business. She started the company officially with good management all through the operations. She understood that coffee needs attention from seed to market, and appointed staff to meet all requirements.
Su brought a business mentality to Shwe Ywa Ngan Coffee. For farmers, coffee washing station (CWS) workers, and millers to make a decent and fair income, business is core. Quality and increased yield and multiple processing methods brings higher premiums for all.
As the daughter of coffee farmers and traders, Su understood how to work with farmers. She has the same language, knowledge of culture, and belief in the product, and love for the land.
At the same, Su relishes building trading relationships. Trade brings excitement with increased chances of success, efficiency, and sales in international markets. Su takes a formal, strategic approach to business to ensure decisions benefit all in the future.
Young, energetic and driven to improve quality, Su captures the true essence of specialty coffee. She plans to expand her ground roasted coffee bean market beyond Shan State to other states and expand international coffee sales.