Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee - Arguably the Best Coffee in the World
Jamaica is known for many things, reggae music, sandy beaches, Bob Marley in addition to coffee. The high esteem for Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee among avid coffee consumers has driven its price up to between $46 and $60 per pound. So, what is it about this particular coffee that justifies such a high price tag?
True to its name, Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is grown in the Blue Mountain region of Jamaica, located between Port Maria in the north and Kingston to the south. Rising to 7,500 feet, the Blue Mountains are the highest part of the Caribbean. The area is characterized by wet, cool weather and rich, dark soil with good drainage, ideal conditions for growing coffee. Though coffee isn’t native to Jamaica, it’s the main export of the island.
Not any type of coffee can be called Jamaican Blue Mountain. Jamaica’s Coffee Industry Board certifies every bag of beans to make sure only beans of the highest quality carry the prestigious trademark. The Board only recognizes beans grown in specific parishes of Jamaica: St Mary, Portland, St Andrew and St Thomas.
The geographical area that produces Jamaican blue mountain coffee is quite restricted and can only manufacture so much coffee. The limited quantity, the superb quality resulting from pains-taking growing methods, the seductive aroma and the renowned name of Jamaican Blue Mountain have without doubt contributed to its reputation as one of the most desirable coffees in the world - more so than sumatra coffee, or French roast coffee, for example. So long as hardcore coffee drinkers continue to demand it, it will be also one of the more costly.
