How to distinguish between true and false "Blue Mountains"? The difference between Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee and Blue Mountain Coffee

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[preface]

When it comes to drinking coffee, many friends will immediately say, "give me a cup of Blue Mountain." Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee has a high reputation, low production and a long history. It can be said that even if you have never tasted boutique coffee, you have heard of Blue Mountain Coffee. We often see "Blue Mountain Coffee", "Blue Mountain Flavor Coffee" and "Blue Mountain Harmony" on the market, which are dazzling. Not all those with the words "Blue Mountain" are authentic Blue Mountain Coffee. They drank fake Blue Mountains a little inadvertently. So how can we tell which Blue Mountains are real? First of all, let's learn what Blue Mountain Coffee is like.

History of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee:

The history of Jamaican coffee can be traced back to the 18th century, when King Louis XV of France ordered the cultivation of coffee in Jamaica in 1717, and in the mid-1920s, the Governor of Jamaica Nicholas. Nicholas Lawes imported Arabica seeds from Martinique and began to plant them in St. Andrew. Coffee trees have been introduced into Jamaica and coffee is grown in the Blue Mountains, which is divided into high-altitude Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, Alpine Coffee and Jamaican Coffee. Different grades also determine different prices.

Planting altitude:

The Blue Mountains are located in the eastern part of the island of Jamaica, hence its name because it is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. On clear days, the sun shines directly on the blue sea, and the peaks reflect the bright blue light of the sea. The highest peak of the Blue Mountains, which is 2256 meters above sea level, is the highest peak in the Caribbean and a famous tourist attraction. Located in the coffee belt, with fertile volcanic soil, fresh air, no pollution, humid climate, foggy and rainy all the year round (the average precipitation is 1980 mm, the temperature is around 27 degrees), this climate has created the world-famous Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. It also creates the highest price coffee in the world.

The real Blue Mountain Coffee is one of the most advantageous coffee growing conditions in the world. The weather, geological structure and topography of Jamaica provide a unique ideal place. Designated Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee can only be grown in the Blue Mountain area, in Kingston, Jamaica is in the eastern north of the island. The ridge across Yatoujia extends to the east of the island, and the Blue Mountains are more than 2100 meters high. The cool weather, foggy weather and frequent rainfall reconcile the rich land of Rain Water. Here people use mixed planting to grow coffee trees next to banana and avocado trees on terraces.

Moreover, the mountain is very uneven, and the process of harvesting is very difficult (the coffee harvester is almost entirely female). Their coffee trees are on rugged hillsides, and the picking process is so difficult that non-local skilled female workers are simply unable to do it. It is very important to choose the right ripe coffee beans when picking. Immaturity or ripeness will affect the quality of the coffee.

Washing treatment: Lanshan has only water washing treatment.

The peel, pulp and mucous membrane were removed by washing and fermentation. Farms that use the washing method must build washing ponds and be able to introduce an endless supply of running water. During the treatment, first remove the peel and pulp and let it ferment for 18 hours, then put the mellow beans into the pool and pass them back and forth, using the friction of the beans and the power of running water to wash the coffee beans until smooth and clean. After washing, at this time, the coffee beans are still wrapped in the pericarp with a moisture content of 50%. They must be dried to reduce the moisture content to 12-14%, otherwise they will continue to be mellow, moldy and rotten. After that, the coffee beans are screened and stored in a special warehouse. These procedures must be strictly mastered, otherwise, the quality of the coffee will be affected.

Three major producing areas of Blue Mountain Coffee

The Blue Mountain area is a small area with a planting area of only 6000 hectares, and it is impossible to grow all the coffee marked "Blue Mountain" there. Another 12000 hectares are used to grow two other types of coffee (non-Blue Mountain Coffee): Alpine Top Coffee and Jamaican Coffee.

Today, St. Andrew is still one of the three major producing areas of Blue Mountain Coffee, while the other two are Portland and St.Thomas. Some small estates also grow Blue Mountain Coffee, such as WallenfordEstate, SilverHillEstate and AtlantaEstate in J.Martinez. Even the largest landowners in the region are small-scale growers by international standards, many of whom are small landowners whose families have been working on the land for two centuries.

At present, there are six marks that can represent the origin of Blue Mountain Coffee, such as Memphis River Embankment Central Factory (M.B.C.E), Blue Mountain Coffee Cooperative Factory (M.H.C.C.T.), Portland Blue Mountain Coffee Cooperative Factory (P.X.X.S.H.), Coffee Industry Association (Wallenford), Coffee Industry Association (St. John's Peak) and J.A.S (Lanli). There are also some manor grades that are marked on the barrel.

Variety

Tiebika top leaves are bronzed, the bean body is oval or thin, the tree is tall, the branches are slightly tilted, the angle is 50 Murray 70 degrees, the flavor is elegant, but the physique is weak, the disease resistance is poor, the coffee yield of each tree is very low and the fruit yield is low.

The leaf tip of the iron pickup species has a feature, which is red copper, which is called red top coffee. Coffee tree opposite leaves are long oval, smooth leaves, the end of the branch is very long, few branches, and the flowers are white, open at the base of the petiole connecting the branch. Ripe coffee berries look like cherries and are bright red.

Why did Japan have the priority to purchase at that time?

The Jamaican Coffee Industry Committee was established by the Government of Jamaica in 1950 to develop quality standards for Jamaican coffee and to monitor the implementation of quality standards to ensure the quality of Jamaican coffee. The Committee awarded special official seals for raw and roasted coffee exported from Jamaica because the use of Japanese loans improved the quality of production and thus ensured the market.

By 1981, about 1500 hectares of land in Jamaica had been reclaimed for coffee cultivation, followed by investment in another 6000 hectares of coffee land. In fact, today's Blue Mountain area is a small area with a planting area of only 6000 hectares, and it is impossible to grow all the coffee marked "Blue Mountain" there. Another 12000 hectares are used to grow two other types of coffee: Alpine Top Coffee and Jamaican Coffee.

According to Jamaica Coffee Bureau export statistics by 2013, 85% of the limited Blue Mountain coffee bean quotas were exported to Japan, 5% to the United States, 5% to Europe and 5% to other countries. However, China accounts for 15% of the global consumption and distribution of authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, according to the International Coffee Association. This is due to the fact that some shares of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee in Japan, Australia and Europe are exported to Taiwan through direct subsidiaries.

Jamaica is the only country in the world that has a government coffee regulatory agency-Jamaica Coffee Industry Authority (CIB), which belongs to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Jamaica. The function of CIB is planting technical guidance, processing training, fair trade, quality supervision and a series of things about the quality and brand of Jamaica Blue Mountain. The members of the board of directors of CIB are all owners of more than a certain amount of plantation estates in Jamaica (due to the transfer of industry, the newly certified Blue Mountain Manor in Jamaica requires an area of more than 50 hectares). CIB stipulates that only the blue mountain coffee beans produced in the producing area of Jamaica Blue Mountain more than 2200 feet can be called Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee. According to the bean size, the grades are NO.1, NO.2, NO.3 and hand-selected PB. Among them, the basic standard of NO.1 Blue Mountain raw beans is beans with more than 17 mesh, defect rate less than 3%, moisture content about 13%, and so on. In addition, so far, Lanshan Coffee raw beans are treated only by water washing, and there are no sun and other treatments.

Another company worth mentioning is Coffee Trades, whose estate name is CLYDESDALE. The company's coffee factory is in the backyard of the CIB office building. The estate is about 1200 meters on the Blue Mountain hillside. The other two largest Blue Mountain Coffee companies in Jamaica are Wallenford and Mavis Bank, which used to be state-controlled companies. Wallenford production exceeds 60% of all Jamaican Blue Mountain production. And it is one of the few Jamaican Blue Mountain companies with three grades of coffee: Jamaican Blue Mountain, Jamaican Alpine and Jamaican Special Coffee.

Classification and grading of Blue Mountains:

The history of Jamaican coffee can be traced back to the 18th century. The British introduced coffee trees to Jamaica and planted coffee in the Blue Mountains, which is divided into high-altitude Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, Jamaican Alpine Coffee and Jamaican Coffee. Different grades also determine different prices.

(1) Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee

Among them, there are four grades under Blue Mountain Coffee and Alpine Coffee. From top to bottom in terms of quality, NO.1, NO.2, NO.3 and PB,PB are round beans. According to CIB standards, only coffee grown above 666m above sea level is called Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. The best coffee is located in the Blue Mountain of Jamaica with a height of about 2000,000,2256m. Because it is located on a dangerous hillside, the output is small, the grain is large, the quality is good, the taste is harmonious, and it has appropriate sour, bitter, fragrant, mellow and sweet taste. It is recognized as the best in the world, so the price of Blue Mountain No.1 is the highest of all Blue Mountain Coffee.

(2) Jamaica Alpine Coffee

The coffee produced below 666 meters in the Blue Mountain area of Jamaica is called Alpine Coffee, which is second only to Blue Mountain Coffee in quality. it is called the brother variety of Blue Mountain Coffee by industry insiders. Jamaica Blue Mountain caffeine produces very little, so if you want to taste Jamaican coffee, then Jamaican Alpine Coffee is your best choice.

(3) Jamaican coffee

Coffee is grown outside the Blue Mountains and is called Jamaican coffee. It turns out that people in the coffee industry in China generally have a wrong understanding that only coffee grown in the Blue Mountains above 1800 meters above sea level can be called Blue Mountain Coffee. In fact, there is only one manor on the top of the Blue Mountains above 1800, that is, Amber, which is of Chinese descent. The owner of the manor is surnamed Lyn (Lin). Originally from Guangdong, China, the manor has a land area of only 30 hectares and its output is very small. Blue Mountain Coffee is mainly distributed in 5 mountainous areas such as John Crow,St.John's Peak,Mossman's Peak,High Peak,Blue Mountian Peak in the Blue Mountains.

Real Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is certified:

The Jamaican government used to insist that all Blue Mountain coffee is roasted in Jamaica to ensure that the quality remains the same. In fact, baking is a fine art, and it takes experience, training and expensive equipment to do a good job. From the consumer's point of view, coffee beans should be obtained and drunk immediately after baking. Coffee roasting in Jamaica is unlikely to meet this requirement. Now, raw coffee beans from Jamaica can be exported.

At present, the Jamaican coffee shop on the market can issue certificates for all exported Blue Mountain coffee.

There are three types of certificates:

(1) Certificate of quality issued by the Jamaican Coffee Agency

(2) the authorized sales certificate issued by the blue mountain coffee manufacturer.

(blue Mountain Coffee is distributed by 4 processing producers licensed by the Jamaican government and exported by 16 licensed exporters)

(3) Certificate of origin of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee

The quality certificate indicates the time and quantity. The Jamaica Coffee Bureau randomly selects a package from the Blue Mountain Coffee for inspection, and issues a certificate if the conditions of the Blue Mountain Coffee are met.

Flavor of Blue Mountain Coffee:

It tastes very clean, and it is one of the sweetest coffees in the world. This taste has been described by JimReynolds in Peet Coffee and Tea: "the best example of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is that it is fragrant, smooth and strong, and it makes me feel like a gem. It is as precious as a gem. It's complex, but very mild, it's sweet, it's very mellow. You have to taste it in order to know what I'm talking about. Unique growth conditions, and in all the production process are very careful, making Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee very famous. The taste is full-bodied and mellow. the sweet, sour and bitter taste of coffee is perfect, with no bitterness at all, only a moderate and perfect sour taste and a long-lasting fruit taste.

How to distinguish between true and false Blue Mountains?

1, appearance: the raw beans of Blue Mountain Coffee are cyan, the appearance is very neat, the size is medium to small, the ends are warped up, the volume increases a lot after baking, very full.

2, grinding beans: the real blue mountain coffee beans grow at high altitude, its cytoplasmic structure is relatively loose, when grinding by hand, it feels very crisp, cool and continuous, and there is no feeling of resistance.

3, aroma: the aroma is very rich and dense; the so-called blended Blue Mountain Coffee does not have this aroma.

4, taste: the real Blue Mountain Coffee has a balanced and full-bodied taste, without any feeling of prominence or lack of taste, which is unmatched by any other coffee beans, the most critical identification point. The aroma of blue mountain peas is more subtle and the taste is relatively stronger.

Daily cooking: filter cup choice: V60 filter cup, kalita fan and KON0 can be used.

Parameters: 15g powder, water temperature 90 degrees, grinding 3.5.The ratio of water to powder is close to 1:15, the total time is about 2:00.

Technique: 25-30g water steaming, the steaming time is 30s, the first stage water injection to 120g water cut off; vertical flow, small flow slowly circle; the second stage water injection to 225g, the flow and circle speed is slightly faster, reducing powder clogging filter cup, resulting in over-extraction.

Other extraction suggestions:

Normal pressure: 3.5-4 degree of grinding / water temperature 90 degrees

Siphon: 4 degree of grinding, water temperature: 89 degrees

Philharmonic pressure, 2.5 degree of grinding, water temperature 88 degrees

So, what is Blue Mountain flavor coffee?

The so-called "Blue Mountain matching" actually has nothing to do with Blue Mountain. The reason for this is that the early Blue Mountain coffee is rare and expensive, and the operator uses mixed beans and deep roasting to make coffee close to the blue mountain taste according to the blue mountain flavor. therefore, conscientious merchants in domestic and foreign markets will tell customers that this is a comprehensive blue mountain, blue mountain flavor, blue mountain style coffee beans, not real blue mountain coffee.

The real Blue Mountain and Blue Mountain flavor are two different concepts, which are generally roasted with other beans to mimic the similar taste of Blue Mountain coffee. The beans of "Blue Mountain matching" are mixed, have a big difference in shape and are easier to identify. Also do not believe in dozens of yuan a pound of "the best Blue Mountain", more than ten yuan a cup of "Blue Mountain Coffee".

Not all the blue mountains are really blue mountains. I hope it can help you to distinguish.