Blue Mountain Coffee
The island of Jamaica is renowned for many things, sandy beaches, reggae music, Bob Marley in addition to coffee. The high regard for Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee among keen coffee consumers has sent its price up to between $46 and $60 a pound. You might well ask what is it about this particular coffee that warrants such a high price tag?
Yes - the name is a dead giveaway - Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is grown in the Blue Mountain area of Jamaica, generally located between Kingston to the south and Port Maria to the north. Reaching a height of 7,500 feet, the Blue Mountains are the highest point in the Caribbean. The area is characterized by cool, wet weather and rich, dark earth with good drainage, perfect prerequisites for cultivating coffee. Though coffee is not native to Jamaica, it’s the main export of the island.
Not just any old cup of java can be called Jamaican Blue Mountain. Jamaica’s Coffee Industry Board must certify each and every bag of beans to make sure only the highest quality beans display the prestigious trademark. The Board only recognizes beans grown in particular Jamaican parishes: St. Andrew, St. Thomas, Portland and St. Mary.
The geographical region that cultivates Jamaican blue mountain coffee is quite small and can only grow a certain amount of coffee. The limited availability, the supreme quality resulting from pains taking cultivation methods, the alluring aroma and the world-famous name of Jamaican Blue Mountain have undoubtedly contributed to its fame as one of the most desirable coffees in the world - more so than columbian coffee, or French roast coffee, for instance. As long as hardcore coffee-drinkers continue to demand it, it will also be one of the most expensive.