Blue Mountain Jamaican Coffee

The history of Blue Mountain Jamaican Coffee begins half a world away in France in 1723 when King Louis XV sent three coffee plants to the French colony of Martinique, some 1200 miles to the SW of Jamaica.

Five years later in 1728 the governor of Jamaica, Sir Nicholas Lawes, received one coffee plant as a gift from the Governor of Martinique. The plant took root with vigor and only nine years later, in 1737, coffee exportation began with an initial shipment of 83,000 lbs. The coffee industry was born.

Coffee plants thrive in the naturally potash, nitrogen and phosphoric acid rich soil. Coffee trees prefer high altitudes and are perfectly suited for the mountain slopes that are otherwise unsuitable for the other agricultural endeavors such as sugar cane, banana, cocoa and citrus, none of which, interestingly, are native to the island yet vital to the economy.

Coffee is grown in all parts of the island and at all elevations, however, the finest coffee is the Blue Mountain Jamaican Coffee which comes from an area on the eastern side of the island, just north of Kingston in the Blue Mountains known, appropriately enough, as the Blue Mountain Region.

Coffee grown outside the this Region is referred to as Jamaican High Mountain, which is comparable in body and balance but tends to be a bit more acidic to the refined tastes of the connoisseur. Lower grown Blue Mountain Jamaican Coffee is referred to as Blue Mountain Valley coffee, which is medium bodied, delicate to bland in flavor and rather rich in acid.

Many coffee brands from Jamaica coffee claim their product is Blue Mountain Jamaican Coffee but in fact may be a Jamaican High Mountain or even a Blue Mountain Valley variety and is only milled within the boundaries of the Blue Mountain Region.

True Blue Mountain Jamaican Coffee is full-bodied, moderately acidy and richly complex, though occasionally marred by a slight mustiness, which is characteristic of many Caribbean coffees.

The market has had its share of setbacks from worker shortages around the turn of the 20th century to the complete shut down of production for two years due to hurricane devastation in 1988.

Early in the exportation of coffee, Canada was the largest consumer with over 60% of all coffee exports bound for this country. In 1943 the Canadian government declared the quality unacceptable and stopped all importation.

In 1944 the government established the Central Coffee Clearing House, where all coffee bound for export was cleaned, inspected and graded, in an attempt to raise the standard of their coffee.

In 1950 the coffee growers established their own governing body, the Jamaican Coffee Industry Board, to improve and maintain the quality and reputation of the coffee.

The JCIB successfully accomplished its goal through setting and enforcing standards for growing, harvesting, processing and marketing of its product. Today, it is known for its high-quality. Annual production stands around 6,600,000 lbs. of which about 85% is exported to Japan.

The remaining 15% is distributed mostly between the U.S. and the U.K. gourmet specialty markets where it can fetch up to US$40/lb.

Assorted Blue Mountain Jamaican Coffee

Jablum JBM Ground Gift Box

Jablum JBM Coffee, Roasted Whole Bean, 16 oz bag

JBM Wallenford Estate Coffee, 2-oz Ground, Burlap Gift Packaging

Enter your E-mail Address Enter your First Name (optional) Then Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure. I promise to use it only to send you Ultimate Coffees Info Newsletter.