Jamaica is one of the most beautiful places on earth, with its lush green vegetation, beautiful beaches, the laid-back lifestyle of the Islanders, and the incredible jaw-dropping views of the Blue Mountains.
Just below 5,500 feet lies a rich forest reserve that serves Jamaica’s most valuable asset; Blue mountain Coffee Trees. Coffee is considered a mood enhancer and improves memory and cognitive functions.
Blue Mountain coffee can help with regulating Type 2 diabetes by 25 percent when you consume three to four cups per day. With all this said, let us take a closer look at Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee, which gives a full breakdown of its origin and longevity as a world-renowned product.
Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee – A Full Breakdown
In 1728, Sir Nicholas Lawes, Governor of Jamaica received a gift of one coffee plant from the Governor of Martinique. From that one Arabica Coffee plant, exquisite coffee was introduced to the world. This one plant was nurtured into a plantation within nine years.
The first coffee was exported then came the birth of Jamaica’s Coffee Industry. The nitrogen and phosphorous-rich soil of Jamaica was love at first sight for the arabica Coffee due largely to the steep elevations of the Blue Mountains located north of Kingston on the eastern side of the Island which is risen to an elevation of 2,350 meters.
Coffee Beans cultivated are mainly Arabica Typica. Jamaica was the leader and largest producer of coffee in the world been 1800 and 1840 with its production reaching seventy (70,000) tons per year. However, when slavery was abolished in 1838, many coffee plantations were closed to make room for the newly freed slaves who began planting food crops for themselves.
What Kinds of Soil Are Good for Coffee
Coffee thrives in fertile, volcanic soil, regular rainfall, and under misty cloud covers which helps to shade it from the pelting sun. All these factors combined to develop coffee with sweetness and aroma, rich flavonoids, and a full body with mild acidity.
For coffee to be called Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee it must be planted at altitudes of up to 1800 meters in the parishes of Portland, St Andrew, St Mary, and St Thomas which include an area of 6000 hectares; the size of a large estate in on of the high volume coffee growing countries.
Growing coffee in the Blue Mountains is characterized by mostly small holdings of groups of four hectares but there are larger estates up to seventy (70) hectares in size.
The result is regarded by many as the best coffee in the world. The area where authentic Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee plants are cultivated is strictly controlled and is relatively small and exportable.
Annual production varies between 400 and 1000 metric tones. This is considered tiny by world standards and equivalent to 0.1% of the production of Columbian output. It is reported, that when evaluated closely, this kind of production is equivalent to that three hours of Colombian production.
With that said, highlighting the scarcity and exclusivity is the fact that Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee is virtually the only coffee in the world that is packed in an iconic wooden barrel instead of bags.
It has never been revealed why the coffee has been packed in wooden barrel, but I am assuming that this kind of packaging helps to seal in all the natural goodness of the coffee.
What is Different About Blue Mountain Coffee?
Blue Mountain Coffee is grown in the Blue Mountain region on the easterly end of Jamaica which is the highest mountain in Jamaica at seven thousand four hundred feet (7400ft) and the elevation of the mountain is quintessential for the production of coffee.
There is a requirement that the beans are cultivated at altitudes of 3000 to 5500 feet to be considered in the category of Blue Mountain Coffee
Only coffee harvested at this altitude within the mountain range will receive the accolade and label BMC. The beans are harvested in four different Parishes namely, Portland, St Mary, St Thomas, and St. Andrew. In addition, the thick rain forest cover along the slopes of the mountain helps to create the perfect conditions for the growth of coffee beans.
Rainwater descending the slopes provides the beans with all the water they need to grow. Moreover, the tropical climate creates just the right amount of sunshine and water that will allow the plants to thrive on the Island.
These ideal conditions are not found in many other parts of the world and cementing the fact that Blue Mountain coffee is one of the best-tasting coffee.
Why Blue Mountain Coffee Tastes So Good?
The peak and surrounding Blue Mountains have a greenish-blue tinge which is due mainly to the mists and lush vegetation. Within these mountain areas are prohibited boundaries by the Jamaican government that the world’s best and best-known single-origin coffee grows; where few coffee drinkers have experienced the taste of single-origin coffee.
What makes Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee so good? There is not one factor but many and it is important to be sure you are getting authentic organic Blue Mountain Coffee.
Exported by the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica, the blue mountain coffee is one hundred percent Jamaican and ensures that what is called Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, comes from the legally designated growing area.
In addition, each barrel is inspected for quality, checking the bean size and color. Experienced Tasters roast samples and “Cup”‘ the coffee to ensure it is properly processed and has the aroma and taste that defines the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee brand.
Researchers ponder exactly what factors in the soil contributes to the exceptional taste. These factors are not known, but perhaps a certain amount of stress contributes to better-tasting coffee.
After all, it is said that the best wines come from vines grown in difficult conditions, and so is Blue Mountain Coffee.
All these factors combine a very rich, smooth, cup of coffee that is exceptionally well-balanced and is generally low in acidity.
Health Benefits of Blue Mountain Coffee
The Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is packed with a wealth of antioxidants and nutrients and by consuming a cup of coffee, your body will benefit from the minerals and vitamins.
Research has suggested that a cup of coffee contains 6% of the recommended daily average of vitamin B5, 11% vitamin B5-2, 2% vitamin B3, 3% manganese, and potassium. In addition, to the contained nutrients, there are also antioxidants in Blue Mountain coffee.
Consuming this brand of coffee will help to regulate brain function as there is the presence of caffeine which is a stimulant. The caffeine blocks certain functions, resulting in neuronal brain filling which is increased and helps you feel better.
Blue Mountain Coffee can help you to regulate Type 2 diabetes by 2% when consumed three to four cups per day. Coffee is also considered a mood enhancer and will improve memory and cognitive functions. The rich taste of Blue Mountain coffee helps to fight depression when ingested.
How Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Started
Jamaica is known for its lush vegetation, beautiful beaches, jaw-dropping views, the laid-back lifestyle of the Islanders, and authentic organic Blue Mountain coffee.
Just below five thousand, five hundred and fifty feet lies a rich forest reserve that serves as Jamaica’s most valued asset; Blue Mountain Coffee Trees.
Edgar Munn grew up in the Blue Mountain region and walked the mountain slopes with his uncle, Keble, where lessons learned were ingrained in him.
He learned how coffee was grown, cultivated and processed. In addition, he learned about the real heroes of the coffee industry, and the men and women who carefully planted and nurtured the precious coffee trees and devoted themselves to harvesting and hand-picking each bean.
Keble bought crops from the local small farmers and at the same time encouraged them to grow and sell their own coffee, an effort which eventually blossomed into a rich culture of micro farms and single estate coffee factories.
In the eighteenth century, Blue Mountain Coffee became known around the world and its popularity grew prominently in the nineteenth century.
In 1855, Cecil Munn planted his first round of plants on Strawberry Hill and began his family history of world-class coffee. Shortly after, disaster struck and Cecil’s crop was consumed by wildfire. This was made even more difficult as coffee plants don’t produce their first crop for three to five years after being planted.
Cecil picked himself up and dusted himself and start over, with the help of friends and family and a few years later the world was introduced to Cecil’s Coffee.
In 1920, his son Victor built Mavis Bank Coffee Central Factory His nephew Keble Munn carried his family business further. He became Jamaica’s first Certified Cup Tester and was the first person to export Blue Mountain Coffee to Japan. He was also a former Minister of Agriculture.
In the early 1950s, a few coffee farmers and producers helped formed the licensing that regulated the coffee estates and production facilities that later became The Jamaica Coffee Industry Board. Among them was Kable Munn. Several farmers began sending their coffee to Munn’s processing facility at Mavis Bank.
There were four original processors of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee such as Wallenford, Moy Hall, Silver Hill, and Mavis Bank Coffee Factory, with currently only Wallenford and Mavis Bank in business.
The Country has strict regulations set in place to regulate coffee production and exportation and this is due to the desire to protect the prestige of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee.
Conclusion
Edgar Munn was certified by the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board to export and sell Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee in the United States of America.
The character of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee is marked by determination, ingenuity, and integrity in the trade. Keble Munn received the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s prized lifetime achievement Award in 1995 but was unable to attend due to his age. Edgar accepted the award on his behalf.
Edgar continues the tradition of high-quality hand-picked Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee which is made possible because of the micro farmers and single estate coffee factories that partner with him.
The Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is packed with antioxidants and nutrients and your body will benefit from the minerals and vitamins.
It is reported that a cup of rich-tasting coffee contains all of the recommended daily averages of vitamin B manganese and potassium.
I hope you found value in reading this post and If you have a question(s) or comment, please feel free to leave them below and I will be more than happy to help you out.
MazieT