Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee on sale at coffee shop in Seoul, South Korea | Photo credit: Wade Van Laius Jamaica is seeking to grow production and export volumes of its super-premium Blue Mountain coffee. Speaking at a ceremony marking Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Day on 9 January 2022, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr, said the industry was profitable, but noted production volumes had fallen in recent years. “The cultivation and production of coffee has been a stable agricultural activity for Jamaica, generating foreign exchange earnings of up to US$17m per year for the last three years. The industry is profitable and it translates to one that supports and improves the quality of lives of our coffee farmers and their families,” said Charles. Charles added that Jamaica was seeking to grow its presence in the US market, which currently accounts for around 20% of exports. Meanwhile, Europe and the rest of the world make up around 10% of exports. Japan, however, is Jamaica’s largest coffee importer, accounting for around 70% of exports. The East Asian nation has also been an active partner in Jamaica’s coffee growing industry, providing support for Jamaican coffee farmers to increase production and introduce eco-friendly farming methods, such as the use of natural fertiliser. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Day was subsequently launched in 2018 by the Association of Japanese Importers of Jamaica’s Blue Mountain Coffee (AJIJC), which marks its 40th anniversary in 2022. The event has since been staged annually by the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association (JCEA) in collaboration with some 5,000 local coffee farmers, the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) and Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO). Jamaica’s coffee production is relatively low compared to other producing nations around the world, with the island producing around 23,000 60kg bags in the 2019/20 growing season – down from the 30,000-40,000 bags produced each year in the late 1990s. Blue Mountain coffee is certified by the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA). Grown at high altitude in Jamaica’s eastern Blue Mountain range, Blue Mountain coffee is certified by the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA). The high-scoring origin fetches premium prices around the world, with 250g bags retailing at around $30-$75.
Diplomatic relations were formed between the two countries all the way back in 1964, after which economic alliances were formed for mutual benefit. One of which was extensive rights to Jamaica’s Blue Mountain coffee beans exports, which had already begun making their way to Japan in the 1950s.
Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee can claim its origins from a decision taken by a French King in the 18th Century. In 1723, King Louis XV sent three coffee plants to the French colony of Martinique – another lush, fertile island 1,900 kilometres south-west of Jamaica. Five years later in 1728, Sir Nicholas Lawes, Governor of Jamaica, received a gift of one coffee plant from the Governor of Martinique. The rest is history.
As influential as ever, every barrel of coffee must go through JACRA for quality control where the green coffee is rigorously inspected before it is exported. This can take time and cause delays, but quality is paramount and strictly controlled, ensuring that all Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee leaving Jamaica is of the highest quality. Furthermore, JACRA sets strict standards for the growing, harvesting, processing and marketing of the coffee, making sure that the end result is always an excellent cup of coffee.
Returning to the coffee’s history, Jamaica became a leader in coffee and the largest producer in the world between 1800 and 1840, with production reaching 70,000 tons per year. In 1838, slavery was abolished and many coffee plantations were closed down to make room for newly freed slaves who began planting food crops for themselves. By the 1890s, the Jamaican coffee industry was in chaos and the government passed legislation to provide “instruction in the art of cultivation and curing by sending certain districts, competent instructors”.
Quality control was a challenge for the next fifty years, with some improvements in the early forties, and then two events occurred. The first, in 1944, was the decision by the Jamaican government to establish a Central Clearing Coffee operation where all coffee for export had to be processed. The second was the creation of the Jamaican Coffee Industry Board (or the JCIB) in 1950 empowered to improve, control and maintain the quality and reputation of Jamaican coffee. The JCIB was recently amalgamated in 2018 with other Jamaican commodity statutory bodies to form JACRA (Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority).
To be called Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, it must be grown at altitudes of up to 1,800 metres in the Parishes of Portland, St Andrew, St. Mary and St Thomas; comprising an area of some 6,000 hectares – the size of a large estate in one of the high volume coffee-growing countries. Coffee farming in the Blue Mountains is characterised by mostly small holdings of up to 4 hectares but there are larger estates of up to 70 hectares in size. There are around 15,000 small holders and estates in total.
Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee on sale at coffee shop in Seoul, South Korea | Photo credit: Wade Van Laius Jamaica is seeking to grow production and export volumes of its super-premium Blue Mountain coffee. Speaking at a ceremony marking Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Day on 9 January 2022, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr, said the industry was profitable, but noted production volumes had fallen in recent years. “The cultivation and production of coffee has been a stable agricultural activity for Jamaica, generating foreign exchange earnings of up to US$17m per year for the last three years. The industry is profitable and it translates to one that supports and improves the quality of lives of our coffee farmers and their families,” said Charles. Charles added that Jamaica was seeking to grow its presence in the US market, which currently accounts for around 20% of exports. Meanwhile, Europe and the rest of the world make up around 10% of exports. Japan, however, is Jamaica’s largest coffee importer, accounting for around 70% of exports. The East Asian nation has also been an active partner in Jamaica’s coffee growing industry, providing support for Jamaican coffee farmers to increase production and introduce eco-friendly farming methods, such as the use of natural fertiliser. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Day was subsequently launched in 2018 by the Association of Japanese Importers of Jamaica’s Blue Mountain Coffee (AJIJC), which marks its 40th anniversary in 2022. The event has since been staged annually by the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association (JCEA) in collaboration with some 5,000 local coffee farmers, the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) and Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO). Jamaica’s coffee production is relatively low compared to other producing nations around the world, with the island producing around 23,000 60kg bags in the 2019/20 growing season – down from the 30,000-40,000 bags produced each year in the late 1990s. Blue Mountain coffee is certified by the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA). Grown at high altitude in Jamaica’s eastern Blue Mountain range, Blue Mountain coffee is certified by the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA). The high-scoring origin fetches premium prices around the world, with 250g bags retailing at around $30-$75.
Is Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Worth the Price?
FAQ
What is so special about Blue Mountain Coffee?
Who buys the most Blue Mountain Coffee?
Which country produces Blue Mountain Coffee?
Where does Japan import coffee from?
How much Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee does Japan Export?
As of 2023, Japan manages to get its hands on anything from 65% to 80% of all annual Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee exports. Jamaican coffee is a national obsession in Japan, to such an extent that the country has celebrated ‘Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Day’ every January 9 since 2018.
Does Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee go to Japan?
Approximately 80% of the Blue Mountain Coffee that is produced is exported to Japan – so their love for the coffee is also partially to blame for the limited supply. In fact, January 9th is “ Blue Mountain Coffee Day ” in both Jamaica and Japan. How to Tell the Difference Between Fake Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee and the Real Deal?
What happened to Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee?
Most plantations were devastated in a huge hurricane that hit the Blue Mountains in 1988 and crippled production. Ataka Trading is one of six Japanese companies that make up the Association of Japanese Importers of Jamaican Coffee and were instrumental in the 2018 naming of January 9 as Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Day in Japan.
Why is Blue Mountain coffee so popular in Japan?
Paul says that “Blue Mountain coffee grains were a pleasure to roast because they are perfectly sorted and beautifully uniform in size and shape and density.” The reputation of Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, as well as its distinctive taste, has attracted the Japanese coffee market. Japan buys approximately 70% to 80% of the exported amount.