The difference between Brazilian coffee beans and Vietnamese coffee beans introduction to the flavor characteristics of Brazilian coffee beans

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Below we would like to explore the factors that make Brazil, Vietnam and Colombia the top three producing areas, and the impact of coffee on these three countries.

I. Brazilian Coffee

Brazil, known as the coffee giant, did not have a coffee tree. Portugal, which colonized Brazil at that time, wanted to attack the coffee market, but there were no coffee seeds. Until French Guiana in northern Brazil introduced coffee in 1727, France feared it would be taken away and even sent troops to patrol outside the manor day and night. However, Francesco de Melopalhata, an officer sent by Brazil to deal with the border problem, was loved by the Guyanese governor's wife because he was young and handsome. He was not only invited to visit the coffee farm in Guyana, but also successfully got the coffee seedlings. The 150-year history of the coffee kingdom began, and Moro Barreta became the father of coffee in Brazil.

(French Guiana)

It was only in the 1770s that Brazil began to grow a lot of coffee, mainly for domestic sale. The coffee industry began to flourish in two stages. The first stage was the increase in market demand in Europe and the United States in the early 19th century. Coupled with the fact that slavery provided a large number of Brazilian workers, Brazil became the largest coffee producer in the world in 1830. In the second stage, in the 20th century, the Brazilian government implemented a protective policy on the coffee industry and set a guaranteed minimum purchase price, which led to a sharp increase in coffee production. In the 1920s, it even reached 80% of the world's output, which was almost monopolized. The coffee industry accounted for 16% of Brazil's GDP.

Since the opening of the free market in 1990, the Brazilian government has adopted a non-interventionist attitude towards the coffee industry. coupled with the gradual increase in production in other coffee producing areas, Brazil's share of world production has also declined. Economically, Brazil has reduced its dependence on coffee, accounting for only 0.35% of Brazil's GDP in 2011, but the impact of Brazilian coffee on market prices should not be underestimated. Once Brazilian coffee suffers frost or insect pests, global market prices soar.

2. Vietnam

Generally speaking, when it comes to coffee producing areas, we will subconsciously think of some countries in Central and South America or Africa, such as Ethiopia and Colombia. In fact, Vietnam surpassed these countries as early as 1994 to become the second largest producer in the world. In 1857, the French Jesuit introduced coffee to Vietnam for the first time, and Vietnam, which originally drank tea, began to drink coffee. In 1994, when the United States lifted the embargo on Vietnam, it happened that the price of Brazilian coffee soared by 39% due to cold damage. Vietnamese coffee took advantage of its large quantity and low price. This turning point has even helped transform Vietnam's economy. Before 1994, 60% of people lived below the poverty line, but only 10% remained after 1994.

(Central Plains Coffee from Vietnam)

Coffee currently accounts for about 3% of Vietnam's GDP, making it Vietnam's largest export. Vietnam mainly grows Robusta beans, which are strong in flavor and high in caffeine, but they are not afraid of diseases and insect pests and are cheap, attracting many large coffee factories (such as Nestl é) to set up factories in Vietnam. In recent years, the government has devoted itself to improving the quality of coffee, replacing old trees and planting Arabica beans to increase profits.

III. Colombia

There is no exact literature on when coffee was introduced into Colombia. Some people say that coffee was introduced from El Salvador in the 16th century and did not flourish until the 19th century. Colombia is the third largest producer of coffee in the world, but Colombian coffee is famous for its quality rather than production. Has a unique coffee growing environment ─── low latitude high altitude, rainfall and soil conditions are very suitable for the growth of Arabica beans. Coupled with the fact that the Colombian government has long operated the coffee industry and controlled export quality, the Colombian National Union of Coffee growers (National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia) was established in 1927, which is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to coffee farmers in the production and export of coffee through the creation of the brand Juan Valdez.

(coffee from Juan Diz)

The reason why the top three coffee producing areas in the world can become the top three is not only the suitable conditions for growing coffee, but also to meet the market demand and the assistance of the government. Brazil, Vietnam and Colombia were all planted in large quantities after coffee was introduced by the colonial government. In Taiwan, also within the coffee belt, the British introduced coffee in the 18th century, and during the Japanese occupation, the Japanese government vigorously promoted the coffee industry of great economic value, reaching the heyday of Taiwan coffee. Then, due to the inactivity of the national government to the coffee industry and the oversupply of global coffee production, Taiwan coffee was lost, with an annual output of less than 200 metric tons. If Taiwan began to cultivate the coffee industry continuously since the Japanese occupation, it might be able to become a coffee world power like Vietnam.

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