For those coffee lovers out there I am about to provide some information on what is often said to be the finest coffee in the world, and not just by Jamaicans. 80% of the brew made here is exported to Japan. What is the price of this fine coffee there? $100 to $130 per kilo! (I believe that is about two pounds) Here in Jamaica, if you go the Blue Mountain Coffee factory once in awhile you can buy it at $12 per lb. In the stores it is usually about $20.
Maybe some of you find this boring but I think it part of the history of Jamaica so for those of you that are interested, read on!
"Folklore says that in 1723, King Louis XV of France sent three coffee plants to his colony, Martinique. Two of the plants died en route and either the third plant or cuttings from it ended up in Jamaica. The plant was brought here in 1728 by former Governor, Sir Nicholas Lawes, who first grew coffee at Temple Hall, st. Andrew. Jamaica's climate proved so conducive to coffee production that the coffee industry expanded rapidly from st. Andrew tot he Blue Mountains and the hills of Manchester, St. Ann and Elizabeth. By 1814, there were 600 coffee plantations on the island. With the abolition of slavery in the 1830's came a shortage of labor and close to 100 years later, the coffee industry had nearly collapsed.
In an attempt to revive the island's struggling coffee industry, the Government created the Coffee Industry Board in 1953 and the Blue Mountain range was geographically zoned for the production of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee. Much like the zoning system implemented by the French wine industry, through their 'appellations of origin', the Coffee Industry Board is the sole exporter of Jamaican Coffee and the ultimate certification centre of authentic Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee. Jamaican coffee is made exclusively from the Arabica Typica coffee bean, which is more fragile to grow, but more flavorful and lower in caffeine than the robusta Bean grown in many parts of the world. Recognized as a premium quality gourmet bean in its own right, the Arabica coffee beans must be grown at altitudes between 2,000 and 5,000 feet on selected estates in the Parishes of Portland, St. Andrew and St. Thomas to earn the right to be named 'Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee'. Other grades of Jamaican coffee made from beans grown at lower altitudes include: High Mountain Supreme, Jamaica Prime and Jamaica Select."
The rest of the article is fascinating. It covers how one 18 year old got interested in the coffee business. 25 years after he planted his first coffee tree he is now head of Coffee Traders Ltd., Jamaica's largest exporter of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee by a privately owned business. Here is a link to the article online if you are interested.
Maybe some of you find this boring but I think it part of the history of Jamaica so for those of you that are interested, read on!
"Folklore says that in 1723, King Louis XV of France sent three coffee plants to his colony, Martinique. Two of the plants died en route and either the third plant or cuttings from it ended up in Jamaica. The plant was brought here in 1728 by former Governor, Sir Nicholas Lawes, who first grew coffee at Temple Hall, st. Andrew. Jamaica's climate proved so conducive to coffee production that the coffee industry expanded rapidly from st. Andrew tot he Blue Mountains and the hills of Manchester, St. Ann and Elizabeth. By 1814, there were 600 coffee plantations on the island. With the abolition of slavery in the 1830's came a shortage of labor and close to 100 years later, the coffee industry had nearly collapsed.
In an attempt to revive the island's struggling coffee industry, the Government created the Coffee Industry Board in 1953 and the Blue Mountain range was geographically zoned for the production of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee. Much like the zoning system implemented by the French wine industry, through their 'appellations of origin', the Coffee Industry Board is the sole exporter of Jamaican Coffee and the ultimate certification centre of authentic Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee. Jamaican coffee is made exclusively from the Arabica Typica coffee bean, which is more fragile to grow, but more flavorful and lower in caffeine than the robusta Bean grown in many parts of the world. Recognized as a premium quality gourmet bean in its own right, the Arabica coffee beans must be grown at altitudes between 2,000 and 5,000 feet on selected estates in the Parishes of Portland, St. Andrew and St. Thomas to earn the right to be named 'Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee'. Other grades of Jamaican coffee made from beans grown at lower altitudes include: High Mountain Supreme, Jamaica Prime and Jamaica Select."
The rest of the article is fascinating. It covers how one 18 year old got interested in the coffee business. 25 years after he planted his first coffee tree he is now head of Coffee Traders Ltd., Jamaica's largest exporter of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee by a privately owned business. Here is a link to the article online if you are interested.
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