In this article we look at the origins of coffee from the South American continent.
Brazilian Coffee – Brazil produces roughly a third of the worlds’ coffee, but the bulk of it is of the Robusta variety and is not considered to be of high quality. It is mainly used for blending, and the Brazilians have always had the priority of low price over quality.
However there are some excellent Arabica coffees grown around the Sao Paulo region, where the well know Santos or Bourbon Santos bean are produced. Another popular variety is the Rio, a dry-processed bean with a characteristic medicinal-like flavour. Considered a defect by most westerners it is however much loved in the Balkans and Middle-Eastern countries.
Coffee From Colombia – Colombia produces a large amount of excellent and consistent quality – predominately Arabica – beans each year. It is now the biggest producer of Arabica coffees on the planet.
The standard Colombian coffee is wet-processed, and is grown by small farmers or smallholders – mostly in the three main mountain ranges (called cordilleras) – and collected, processed, milled and exported by the Colombian Coffee Federation. It is all well balanced, has excellent consistency and can range from a superb, high-grown, mildly fruity flavour, to a rather ordinary, yet still fruity coffee.
The coffee industry in Colombia is known the world over for its high quality production.
Peruvian Coffees – Despite domestic political problems, Peru still manages to figure among the top ten coffee producers in the world.
The best Peruvian coffees are high grown arabicas, which are flavourful, aromatic, gentle, and mildly acidy, and they are highly valued for their blending properties.
Ecuadorian Coffees – In 2007 Ecuador produced nearly a million bags of both arabica and robusta coffees. These coffees are medium-bodied and fairly acidy, with a straightforward flavour typical of most Central and South American coffee.
Whilst the country has everything to produce top quality coffees, in fact most of the coffee exported is aimed at low price rather than high quality. Much of the coffee is consumed within the country itself.
Venezuelan Coffees – Venezuela used to produce large quantities of coffee comparable to that of Colombia but since the discovery of oil it’s past glories have waned substantially so that today Venezuela only produces around 7% of Colombia’s production. Most of this is drunk by the Venezuelans themselves.
Unsurprisingly the best arabica Venezuelan coffee comes from the far western corner of the country – the part that borders Colombia.
Coffees from this area usually are called Maracaibos, after the port through which they are shipped. The best-known Maracaibo coffees are Caracus, Cúcuta, Mérida, Trujillo, and Táchira. Regardless of market name, the highest grade of Venezuela coffee is Lavado Fino, (fine washed)
Look out for my other articles in this series of coffees from around the globe.
By: Fenton Wayne
Posts Tagged ‘Arabica Beans’
South American Coffees
December 23rd, 2009Visiting Colombian Coffee Plantations
November 21st, 2009
Colombia is the coffee lover’s Mecca. Colombia produces ten percent of the world’s Arabica beans, exporting ninety percent of that so the world can enjoy the rich taste of Colombian coffee. Even the aroma itself is satisfying. Visiting Colombian coffee plantations can also be an immensely satisfying experience. Coffee, the region’s most important export, is helping draw tourists to Colombia. They may come for the coffee, but they are captivated by the beauty of the land, the diversity of the culture, and the hospitality of the coffee growers of Colombia.
In the 1990s, coffee prices dipped precipitously. Farmers faced the loss of their farm land, livelihood, and way of life unless they could find other avenues of income. Resourceful farmers began sowing a far different crop. Tourists became their best cash crop. Perhaps borrowing the idea from Italian agriturismo, Colombians offered visitors the chance to stay at their homes, experience the rural life, and of course, taste the rich fruits, or beans, of their labor. Coffee fincas, as they are known, are tremendously popular with foreign tourists and even visitors from Colombia’s busy cities.
Most of the coffee grown in Colombia is produced on small farms such as these, but visiting larger plantations can also be a fabulous experience as well. You can travel to Bogota, explore the way of life in neighboring towns and learn about the coffee growing process – perhaps sampling a little of the delicious brews made from mild Arabica beans. After a full day of exploration and traveling around the region, you return to your luxurious accommodations to enjoy rest and relaxation.
Take the time to visit the premiere coffee-growing regions of Armenia, Montenegro, Salento, and the Cocora Valley. Discover that Colombia is far more than coffee beans; travelers can visit the Congress Palace, the Cardinal’s Palace, cathedrals and churches, and the world-famous Gold Museum and Fernando Botero Museum that displays the incredible and diverse art of the region. Drink in the history and culture of this remarkable country; it is as rich as its famed coffee.
Colombia is becoming a premiere tourism locale because of the complexity of the country’s past and the optimism for its future. It is a country rich in culture, heritage, and promise. Just as you can see the process of a seed becoming a cup of the world’s finest coffee, you can see Colombia blossoming into a world class destination.
By: Enid Glasgow