Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

Last updated
125 grams of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee beans certified by Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Authority Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee in a packet.jpg
125 grams of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee beans certified by Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Authority

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee or Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee is a classification of coffee grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. The coffee was introduced to Jamaica in 1728. [1]

Contents

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is an Arabica coffee-bean variety called Typica, [2] which originated in southwestern Ethiopia. [3]

The best lots of Blue Mountain coffee are noted for their mild flavour and lack of bitterness. Over the past few decades, this coffee has developed a reputation that has made it one of the world's most expensive and sought-after coffees. Over 80% of all Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is exported to Japan. [4] In addition to their use for brewed coffee, the beans are the flavour base of Tia Maria coffee liqueur.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is a globally protected certification mark, meaning only coffee certified by the Jamaica Commodities Regulatory Authority [5] (previously the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica) can be labelled as such. It comes from a recognised growing region in the Blue Mountain region of Jamaica, and the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica monitors its cultivation.

Generally located between Kingston to the south and Port Antonio to the north, the Blue Mountains are some of the highest mountains in the Caribbean, rising to 2,256 metres (7,402 ft). The region's climate is cool and misty with high rainfall, and the soil is rich with excellent drainage, conditions considered ideal for coffee cultivation. [6]

The Coffee Industry Regulation Act

Coffee is roasted in a cast iron skillet at James Dennis' Coffee in Section, Portland Parish, Jamaica. Coffee is roasted in a cast iron skillet at James Dennis' Coffee in Section, Portland Parish, Jamaica. Food is being cooked alongside the coffee.jpg
Coffee is roasted in a cast iron skillet at James Dennis' Coffee in Section, Portland Parish, Jamaica.

The Coffee Industry Regulation Act specifies what coffee may use the Blue Mountain label. Additionally, it restricts the use of the Blue Mountain trademark to those authorized by the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (formerly the Coffee Industry Board). Broadly speaking, coffee harvested from the parishes of Saint Andrew, Saint Thomas, Portland and Saint Mary may be considered Blue Mountain coffee. [7]

Traditionally, only coffee grown at elevations between 910 metres (3,000 ft) and 1,700 metres (5,500 ft) could be called Jamaica Blue Mountain. Coffee grown at elevations between 460 metres (1,500 ft) and 910 metres (3,000 ft) is called Jamaica High Mountain, and coffee grown below 460 metres (1,500 ft) elevation is called Jamaica Supreme or Jamaica Low Mountain. (All land in Jamaica above 1,700 metres (5,500 ft) is a forest preserve, so no coffee is grown there.)[ citation needed ]

Blue Mountain Coffee is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as a certification mark (No. 1,414,598), protected as a community trademark (No. 002093060) in the European Union and as a certification trademark (No. 1222993) with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the United Kingdom. Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee is registered with the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office as a Geographical Indication. [8]

Classifications of Blue Mountain Coffee

There are generally three types of grades of Jamaica Blue Mountain ranked by size and defects. Number 1 beans are the largest and most desired with the least defects, followed by number 2 and 3 beans. Separately, there are peaberry beans, which are smaller beans that appear shaped like a rugby ball as opposed to the usual flat beans. [9]

As with most other varieties of coffee, there are several grades[ which? ] assigned to different lots based on factors such as size, appearance, and defects allowed. [10]

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Day

In December 2018, [11] the Japanese Government accepted a motion from the Association of Japanese Importers of Jamaican Coffee (AJIJC) to recognize January 9, 2019, as the first Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Day. [12] This day is in recognition of January 9, 1967 when 60% of that year's harvest was shipped from the Port of Kingston, Jamaica to Japan. [12] [13] [14] This very large shipment of coffee marked the beginning of a new relationship between Jamaica and Japan after the second world war. [14] To date, Japan continues to be the largest consumer of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. [11]

The Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Day includes promotional activities that lead up to the day and is celebrated locally in Jamaica and Japan as well as in large cities around the world such as New York and London and several Jamaican embassies. [15]

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Festival

The inaugural Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Festival took place over three days on March 23, 24, and 25 in 2018 at Newcastle in St. Andrew, Jamaica. [16] The following year, it occurred on March 1, 2, 3 in 2019 in the same region. [17] Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic the event was canceled in 2020. [18] Organizers switched to a virtual event in 2021 that was offered internationally as a live event on social media. [19] The expanded grand festival took place in-person in 2022 on March 4 and lasted a whole month until April 2. [18]

The festival featured Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee products, promoted vendors, and showcased performers, tours, barista competitions, and food demonstrations for local and international attendees from producers, processors, consumers, and vendors. [17] [16] [20]

The festival offered the opportunity to promote products to tourists, educate current farming producers through a Trade Day, and create opportunities to form matchmaking for buyers, processors, and exporters. [16]

During the festival, workshops, seminars, and networking sessions were offered by the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA), the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), and the Tourism Linkages Network (TLN). [17] [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Jamaica</span>

The economy of Jamaica is heavily reliant on services, accounting for 71% of the country's GDP. Jamaica has natural resources and a climate conducive to agriculture and tourism. The discovery of bauxite in the 1940s and the subsequent establishment of the bauxite-alumina industry shifted Jamaica's economy from sugar, and bananas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee</span> Brewed beverage made from coffee beans

Coffee is a beverage brewed from roasted coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content. It has the highest sales in the world market for hot drinks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kona coffee</span> Market name for Hawaiian coffee brand

Kona coffee is the market name for coffee cultivated on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South Kona Districts of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Only coffee from the Kona Districts can be described as "Kona." The weather of sunny mornings, clouds or rain in the afternoon, little wind, and mild nights combined with porous, mineral-rich volcanic soil create favorable coffee-growing conditions. The loanword for coffee in the Hawaiian language is kope, pronounced.

<i>Coffea canephora</i> Species of coffee plant

Coffea canephora is a species of coffee plant that has its origins in central and western sub-Saharan Africa. It is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. Though widely known as Coffea robusta, the plant is scientifically identified as Coffea canephora, which has two main varieties, robusta and nganda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economics of coffee</span>

Coffee is a popular beverage and an important commodity. Tens of millions of small producers in developing countries make their living growing coffee. Over 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed in the world daily. Over 90 percent of coffee production takes place in developing countries — mainly South America — while consumption happens primarily in industrialized economies. There are 25 million small producers who rely on coffee for a living worldwide. In Brazil, where almost a third of the world's coffee is produced, over five million people are employed in the cultivation and harvesting of over three billion coffee plants; it is a more labor-intensive culture than alternative cultures of the same regions, such as sugar cane or cattle, as its cultivation is not automated, requiring frequent human attention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Sri Lanka</span>

The primary form of agriculture in Sri Lanka is rice production. Rice is cultivated during Maha and Yala seasons. Tea is cultivated in the central highlands and is a major source of foreign exchange. Vegetables, fruits and oilseed crops are also cultivated in the country. There are two Agriculture Parks abbreviated as A. Parks established by the Department of Agriculture. Out of the total population in Sri Lanka, 27.1% engages in agricultural activities. Agriculture accounted for 7.4% of the GDP in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee production in Colombia</span> UNESCO World Heritage Site in Colombia

Coffee production in Colombia has a reputation for producing mild, well-balanced coffee beans. Colombia's average annual coffee production of 11.5 million bags is the third total highest in the world, after Brazil and Vietnam, though highest in terms of the arabica bean. The beans are exported to United States, Germany, France, Japan, and Italy. Most coffee is grown in the Colombian coffee growing axis region, while other regions focus on quality instead of volumes, such as Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. In 2007, the European Union granted Colombian coffee a protected designation of origin status. In 2011, UNESCO declared the "Coffee Cultural Landscape" of Colombia, a World Heritage site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee production in Indonesia</span>

Indonesia was the fourth-largest producer of coffee in the world in 2014. Coffee cultivation in Indonesia began in the late 1600s and early 1700s, in the early Dutch colonial period, and has played an important part in the growth of the country. Indonesia is geographically and climatologically well-suited for coffee plantations, near the equator and with numerous interior mountainous regions on its main islands, creating well-suited microclimates for the growth and production of coffee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee production in India</span>

Coffee production in India is dominated in the hill tracts of South Indian states, with Karnataka accounting for 71%, followed by Kerala with 21% and Tamil Nadu. Indian coffee is said to be the finest coffee grown in the shade rather than direct sunlight anywhere in the world. There are about 250,000 coffee growers in the country; 98% of them are small growers. As of 2009, Indian coffee made up just 4.5% of the global production, being the 7th largest producer of coffee. Almost 80% of Indian coffee is exported; 70% is bound for Germany, Russia, Spain, Belgium, Slovenia, United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Greece, Netherlands and France. Italy accounts for 29% of the exports. Most of the export is shipped through the Suez Canal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministries and agencies of the Jamaican government</span>

The ministries of Jamaica are created at the discretion of the prime minister of Jamaica to carry out the functions of government. As of 2016, the prime minister is Andrew Holness. The agencies of Jamaica are created by both parliamentary law and assigned to ministers to oversee. The governance structure consists of ministries with portfolios that have agencies that carry out its functions.

The HonourableKeble Aubrey Munn was a Jamaican politician and agriculturalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee production in Ethiopia</span> Aspect of agriculture

Coffee production in Ethiopia is a longstanding tradition which dates back dozens of centuries. Ethiopia is where Coffea arabica, the coffee plant, originates. The plant is now grown in various parts of the world; Ethiopia itself accounts for around 17% of the global coffee market. Coffee is important to the economy of Ethiopia; around 30-35% of foreign income comes from coffee, with an estimated 15 million of the population relying on some aspect of coffee production for their livelihood. In 2013, coffee exports brought in $300 million, equivalent to 24% of that year's total exports.

The Guadeloupe Bonifieur is a variety of coffee grown in Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe Bonifieur is the ancestor of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee and is very rare. The fresh air, high altitude, and abundance of rain create ideal conditions for growing this Arabica variety. The variety is called Guadeloupe Bonifieur because of its high quality and great taste, and because, in the past, it was used to enhance lower quality blends. Connoisseurs consider it one of the best coffees in the world, even though it is only available from a few distributors.

Sustainable coffee is a coffee that is grown and marketed for its sustainability. This includes coffee certified as organic, fair trade, and Rainforest Alliance. Coffee has a number of classifications used to determine the participation of growers in various combinations of social, environmental, and economic standards. Coffees fitting such categories and that are independently certified or verified by an accredited third party have been collectively termed "sustainable coffees". This term has entered the lexicon and this segment has quickly grown into a multibillion-dollar industry of its own with potentially significant implications for other commodities as demand and awareness expand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee production in Papua New Guinea</span>

Coffee production in Papua New Guinea is the country's second largest agricultural export, after oil palm, and employs approximately 2.5 million people. It accounts for approximately 1% of world production, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee production in Uganda</span>

Coffee is Uganda's top-earning export crop. In 1989 Uganda's coffee production capacity exceeded its quota of 2.3 million bags, but export volumes were still diminished by economic and security problems, and large amounts of coffee beans were still being smuggled out of Uganda for sale in neighbouring countries. Uganda is one of the few countries in the world with indigenous coffee, with Robusta coffee growing wild around Lake Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee production in Cuba</span>

Coffee has been grown in Cuba since the mid-18th century. Boosted by French farmers fleeing the revolution in Haiti, coffee farms expanded from the western plains to the nearby mountain ranges. Coffee production in eastern Cuba significantly increased during the 19th and early 20th centuries. At its peak production, Cuba exported more than 20,000 metric tons of coffee beans per year in the mid-1950s. After the Cuban Revolution and the nationalization of the coffee industry, coffee production slowly began to decline until it reached all time lows during the Great Recession. Once a major Cuban export, it now makes up an insignificant portion of Cuban trade. By the 21st century, 92 percent of the country's coffee was grown in area of the Sierra Maestra mountains. All Cuban coffee is exported by Cubaexport, which pays regulated prices to coffee growers and processors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee production in Jamaica</span>

Coffee production in Jamaica began after 1728, when governor Sir Nicholas Lawes introduced the crop near Castleton, north of Kingston. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is the special variety of coffee that is grown in the Blue Mountains region, which has the most conducive climate and topographical features; this variety is known for its scent and sweet taste. Most of Jamaica's coffee production is grown for export.

Benguet coffee, also known as Benguet arabica, is a single-origin coffee varietal grown in the Cordillera highlands of the northern Philippines since the 19th century. It belongs to the species Coffea arabica, of the Typica variety. It is one of the main crops of farmers in the province of Benguet, which has a climate highly suitable for arabica cultivation. Benguet coffee is listed in the Ark of Taste international catalogue of endangered heritage foods by the Slow Food movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sagada coffee</span> Variety of Philippine coffee plant

Sagada coffee, also known as Sagada arabica, is a single-origin coffee varietal grown in Sagada in the Cordillera highlands of the northern Philippines. It belongs to the species Coffea arabica, of the Typica variety.

References

  1. "Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Guide: All You Need To Know". January 9, 2020.
  2. "About Coffee – Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority" . Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  3. "Arabica Coffee Varieties | Typica". varieties.worldcoffeeresearch.org. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  4. "Embassy of Jamaica - Tokyo". Archived from the original on 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  5. "Background – Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority" . Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  6. "Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee: The History, 2020" Eighty Seven Plus Coffee
  7. "Rules & Regulations—Coffee Industry Board". Archived from the original on 2001-12-22.
  8. "In Search of a Perfect Cup". www.wipo.int. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  9. "Jamaican Coffee". wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm.
  10. "The Jamaican Coffee Industry Board Quality Certification Process". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  11. 1 2 McLeod, Sheri-Kae (2021-01-12). "#ICYMI: Jamaica Celebrates Blue Mountain Coffee Day". CNW Network. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  12. 1 2 "Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day – Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority" . Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  13. Shiga, Hersey (2022-02-03). "Jamaican Winning beans". HERSEY MAGAZINE. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  14. 1 2 "Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee". Wild 'n' Free Diary. 2021-09-01. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  15. "Blue Mountain Coffee Day 2022 to share 'legendary luxury' globally". Our Today (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-01-08. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival Begins on March 23 – Jamaica Information Service". jis.gov.jm. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  17. 1 2 3 "Trade Development Workshop Kicks Off Blue Mountain Coffee Festival – Jamaica Information Service". jis.gov.jm. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  18. 1 2 "It's Back! The Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival". Jamaica Observer. 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  19. "Tourism Round Up Features the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival Gone Virtual March 12 2021 – Jamaica Information Service". jis.gov.jm. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  20. "JAMAICA Blue Mountain Coffee Festival – The Caribbean's Premier Coffee Festival!" . Retrieved 2022-10-16.