On the afternoon of August 10th, as part of the East Coast of Dianchi Lake International Coffee Culture Carnival, a Guinness World Record™ for the "Largest Coffee Tasting Party" took place. At the event site along the East Coast of Dianchi Lake, this extraordinary event attracted the attention of countless citizens. Thousands of residents and tourists gathered to participate in the challenge and successfully broke the record. This remarkable feat was officially recognized by Guinness World Records and has now been recorded in history.

With Kunming coffee as the bond and Dianchi Lake as the backdrop, an unprecedented coffee challenge journey unfolded, aiming to showcase Kunming's unique charm to the world and to share the enthusiasm of Yunnan. Guinness World Records, originating in the UK, is one of the world's most authoritative record-certification institutions, attracting over 750 million viewers annually to its video programs.

Wang Chen, General Manager of Guinness World Records Greater China, along with three certification officials, witnessed the birth of this new coffee-tasting record. In his speech, Wang Chen said that Guinness World Records has a history of more than 69 years and is committed to inspiring and spreading everyone’s achievements with its core values of fairness, respect, inclusivity, passion, and fun. He emphasized that coffee, as an important element of modern social life, combined with Kunming, a historical and cultural city, showcases the international, fashionable, and romantic image of Kunming. On the occasion of the Qixi Festival, Kunming used coffee as a medium to connect people who love life, jointly creating this remarkable world record.

As Guinness World Records (China) Certification Officer, Ms. Luo Qiong read out the challenge rules in detail, the atmosphere on site reached a boiling point. Once the challenge signal was given, staff quickly served each participant the first cup of carefully prepared black coffee. This seemingly simple black coffee was rich in flavor layers, with participants savoring its cocoa richness, caramel sweetness, and subtle acidity, their faces beaming with satisfaction and surprise.

After tasting the first coffee, participants shared their thoughts. "This is my first time participating in such a large-scale coffee-tasting event, and this cup of black coffee has deeply impressed me with the unique charm of Yunnan coffee. It is not just a beverage but a heritage and expression of culture," said Wang Xi excitedly, a tourist from Beijing accompanied by her daughter. "At this wonderful moment, creating history with so many coffee lovers makes me feel incredibly honored and excited. This cup of coffee will become one of the most unforgettable memories of my life," remarked Aunt Wang, a Kunming resident from the 30th group, accompanied by members of her dance team.

Next, the staff served the participants a second cup of coffee, which skillfully combined the unique tropical fruit aromas of Yunnan, winning widespread praise as soon as it was tasted. Speaking of Yunnan, one cannot ignore its characteristic as a multi-ethnic region. Yunnan is home to 26 of China’s 56 ethnic groups, making its culinary culture rich with diverse ethnic flavors. The food fermentation techniques of varied ethnic groups have provided valuable inspiration for coffee processing.

"I can’t wait to taste the third cup of coffee." Following the host's guidance, the staff served the challengers a third cup of coffee, which was infused with a refreshing rose fragrance interwoven with the aroma of coffee. A sip revealed a harmonious blend of soft acidity and floral aftertaste, not only preserving the classic coffee flavor but also adding a touch of romance and sweetness, taking the taste buds on an unprecedented journey.

"Rose, as a treasure of Yunnan, a flower-rich land, its fragrance has perfectly fused with the richness of coffee at this moment, giving birth to a unique ‘Rose Coffee’," the host introduced. This special coffee blend is a masterpiece of Yunnan baristas, who have ingeniously combined the unique terroir of Yunnan with the richness of coffee, creating a flavor miracle exclusive to Kunming.

It is learned that a total of 30,000 cups of coffee were provided for tasting during this challenge event, all supplied by Ben’ai Coffee, a brand from Kunming Dianchi National Tourism Resort. Ben’ai Coffee, as one of the series products under the "Benlai" IP, quickly gained popularity in the market after its debut at the first Dianchi Specialty Food Competition of Kunming. Its unique cultural connotation and high-quality coffee products have won widespread recognition and praise in the market.

Finally, Ms. Luo Qiong, the official certification officer of Guinness World Records, announced at the venue on the East Coast of Dianchi Lake: The total number of participants in this largest coffee-tasting event was 3,500 and the challenge for the Guinness World Record succeeded!

This news instantly ignited the atmosphere on site, with thunderous applause and cheers pushing the event to its climax. Among the largest coffee-tasting team were children as young as 6 and elderly people up to 88 years old. "This is so exciting! We have made history together at this moment. this honor belongs to every one of us!" Coffee enthusiasts participating in the challenge could not hide their joy and pride, expressing such sentiments.

"Amazing! Incredible!" The audience on site was equally moved by the passion, witnessing this significant moment with their own eyes and cheering for the challengers' achievements. Li Ting, a representative of Nanjing's urban community, could not hold back her excitement: "This Guinness World Record challenge truly got my blood pumping. The romantic atmosphere of Kunming was fully displayed at this moment. I love Kunming, this charming and vibrant city!" 

This challenge event not only provided coffee lovers with a platform to exchange ideas, allowing them to showcase their personal styles and deeply exchange coffee-tasting experiences, but also invisibly promoted the widespread dissemination and development of Yunnan coffee culture. The event used coffee as a medium to combine Yunnan's unique coffee flavors with its profound cultural heritage, showcasing the unique charm of Yunnan coffee to the world and further enhancing its international reputation and influence.

This event also marked a successful practice in creating Kunming's urban cultural tourism IP, with the organizing committee extending an invitation to the world to come to Kunming and experience the unique charm of this city, feeling its coolness and leisure. (Editors: Lexi, Ines)