Jamaica
100% Blue Mountain
Jamaica Blue
Mountain [30/70 100% Blue Mountain/Jamaica High Mountain Supreme]
Jamaica High Mountain
Supreme
Certified Fair Trade
Coffee Beans - Peru Cafe Feminno Full City Roast
Certified Fair Trade
Coffee Beans - Guatemala Hucheutenango Full City Roast
Certified Fair Trade
North West Dark Roast Decaf Coffee Beans
Ethiopian
Yirgacheffe
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A bit of history - Jamaican Coffee
In 1728, Sir Nicholas Lawes, the then Governor of Jamaica, imported coffee into
Jamaica from Martinique. The country was ideal for this cultivation and nine years after
its introduction 83,000 lbs. of coffee was exported.
Between 1728 and 1768, the coffee industry developed largely in the foothills of St.
Andrew, but gradually the cultivation extended into the Blue Mountains. Since then, the
industry has experienced many rises and falls, some farmers abandoning coffee for
livestock and other crops.
In order to save the industry, in 1891 legislation was passed "to provide
instructions in the art of cultivation and curing coffee by sending to certain districts,
competent instructors." Efforts were made to increase the production of coffee and to
establish a Central Coffee Work for processing and grading. This effort to improve
quality, however, was not very successful: until 1943 it was unacceptable to the Canadian
market, which at the time was the largest buyer of Jamaican coffee.
In 1944 the Government established a Central Coffee Clearing House where all coffee for
export had to be delivered to the Clearing House where it was cleaned and graded.
Improvement in the quality of Jamaicas coffee export was underway.
In June 1950 the Coffee Industry Board was established to officially raise and maintain
the quality of coffee exported.
The premium quality, Jamaican washed coffees has been achieved through the efforts of the
Coffee Industry Board.
The first Central Factory to produce washed coffee for export was established by the Board
in Aenon Town in 1950.
In 1953 the Board took over the marketing aspect of local coffee production and sought to
establish markets in England and later Japan as the traditional markets in Canada and the
United States were switching to instant coffee produced from low grade coffee which
Jamaica does not produce. Their efforts have paid rich dividends. In an article "High
Price But Low Production" which appeared in "Coffee International", the
business journal of the international Coffee Industry, the following was stated:
"The Jamaican Coffee grower gets a higher price for his coffee than any other coffee
producing country - approximately 73% of the price paid by the buyers on the World Market.
This is due to the extremely high degree in efficiency in processing by the Coffee
Industry Board. The price they get is high and the demand is far greater than available
supplies because they [the Coffee Industry Board] have succeeded in establishing a
reputation for consistent high quality."
BLUE MOUNTAIN COFFEE
Blue Mountain coffee is grown in the area defined in the schedule of the Coffee Industry
Regulations 1953 (Regulation 2). This coffee has an intense aroma,
fairly good body, sweet taste and free of all off-flavors.
Blue Mountain No. 1
Screen: 17/18 = 96% Minimum (without Elephant Beans)
Appearance: Bluish-Green, Uniform
Defects: 2% Maximum (Foreign Matter, Black and Sour Beans not allowed)
Blue Mountain No. 2
Screen: 16/17 = 96% Minimum (without Elephant Beans)
Appearance: Bluish-Green, Uniform
Defects: 2% Maximum (Foreign Matter, Black and Sour Beans not allowed)
OTHER JAMAICAN COFFEES
High Mountain Supreme is coffee grown at high altitudes in areas outside of the Blue
Mountain.
Fine aroma, fairly good acidity and good body , free from all off-flavors
Screen: 17/18 = 96% Minimum (without Elephant Beans)
Appearance: Bluish Green, Green, Greenish and Uniform
Defects: 2% Maximum (Foreign Matter, Black and Sour Beans not allowed)
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