Coffees of China

The origins of coffee are shrouded in myth and great stories. It is commonly believed that coffee plants were first discovered in the Ethiopian province of Kaffa. Legend has it that a sheep herder named Kaldi noticed that his sheep would become hyperactive if they eating red cherries from a plant native to the area. Deciding to test the effects of these cherries would have on a human, Kaldi noticed that he also became hyperactive.

The story also describes how a monk passed by and scalded Kaldi for his actions. Ironically, it would be monks of this period that would be among the first coffee enthusiasts – they found that the stimulant qualities of coffee allowed them to stay awake for a long period of time, which was useful during long periods of praying and meditation. This story would seem to confirm the belief that coffee received its name from the Ethiopian province of Kaffa, still a major coffee growing region today.

An alternative claim to being the birthplace of coffee comes from Yemen. Local legend has it that an Arab named Omar and his followers were banished to the desert to die of starvation. Rather than dying, Omar and his followers decided that their salvation lay in the fruit from an unknown plant. After boiling and eating this unknown fruit in a broth, Omar and his followers were able to stave off salvation. This act of survival was viewed as a religious sign by residents of the nearest town, Mocha, renowned for producing the finest coffee beans that became popular in Europe and are still enjoyed today.

CHINA’S COFFEE HISTORY

China is waking up – literally – to coffee. From dreadful introduction 10 years ago of Nescafe sachets – which even today put off many from the delights of the real thing – to the explosion of Starbucks, it is obvious that China is developing its own tastes, The country now has its own Arabica beans growing on the fertile slopes of Yunnan. Here we’ll take you through the best – and the worst – of a beverage that is can only become more and more popular.

THOSE DREADFUL COFFEE SACHETS

Coffee is a bean. The stuff in those packets looks like little ground up dried mouse dung, and tastes pretty much the same. No wonder they have “3 in 1” – added sugar and powdered milk – in there as well, possibly to disguise the taste. Anyone ever sued them for a flagrant abuse of advertising terms? They may sell a lot of this gunk in China, but really, this is coffee for people who don’t like or understand the real thing. Leave it for third rate hotel lobbies.

STRANGE CAMP COFFEE

A curiosity this, actually a blend of coffee mixed with chicory, made by a Scottish fi rm on the instructions of the Gordon Highlanders in India in 1885 as they were fi nding it hard to get the real stuff out in the wilds. The famous label still shows a kilted regimental soldier being served a mugful by a turbaned Indian worker. You’re a bit unlikely to come across this in China – in fact anywhere nowadays, although it can sometimes be found in specialist British foodshops in Hong Kong – but if you do, it makes an excellent iced coffee and isn’t a bad drop.

THE EASY STARBUCKS

Over priced, over rated, and over here. A good hang out for conducting dodgy business meetings, however you do NOT take your lap top for an espresso. Starbucks look as if they know their stuff, but this is mass-market product and it’s very expensive for what it is – coffee for tea drinkers.

No related posts.

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.