The History of Coffee in Suriname

You’ve heard of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, Colombian Supremo, and Jamaican Blue Mountain — but what about Suriname? Few coffee drinkers today know that Suriname was the very first place in South America to grow coffee. Yet today, you’ll struggle to find any Surinamese coffee on the market. What happened? This article unpacks the little-known history of coffee in Suriname: where it started, what made it unique, and why it faded away.

Yes, Suriname — then part of Dutch Guiana — was the first South American country to cultivate coffee, beginning in the early 18th century. But the country hasn’t produced coffee commercially for decades. If you’re looking for Surinamese beans today, you won’t find them. Its historical role is notable mainly for how coffee first spread from Java to the Americas via Dutch colonial networks.

How Coffee First Came to Suriname

Coffee arrived in Suriname — then a Dutch colony known as Dutch Guiana — in the early 18th century. The Dutch had settled in Suriname as early as 1667, but it wasn’t until the 1700s that coffee cultivation began. The first coffee trees were brought from Java (Indonesia) by the Dutch and gifted to a Flemish pirate named Hansback by the mayor of Amsterdam. These trees were planted in what was then Dutch Guiana. Soon after, coffee cultivation spread to nearby French Guiana, thanks in part to a French convict named Mourgues. He was promised freedom and amnesty in exchange for introducing coffee to the French colony — and he succeeded.

Where Coffee Was Grown in Suriname

The earliest coffee plantations in South America were located in the region then known as Dutch Guiana (modern-day Suriname). Within just a few years, coffee farming also expanded into neighboring French Guiana. Though the exact farm locations and production volumes from that era are not well-documented, it’s clear that the Dutch colonial infrastructure played a central role in facilitating the early spread of coffee in this part of South America.

What Made Surinamese Coffee Unique

Today, there is no active commercial coffee production in Suriname. The country’s coffee industry declined and eventually disappeared, leaving no modern trace of a distinct Surinamese coffee profile. Because the industry shut down long ago, no specific processing methods, varieties, or flavor notes can be attributed to Suriname’s coffee today. Its significance is entirely historical.

Suriname’s Role in Coffee Trade History

Although Suriname no longer produces coffee, it once played an important role in the global coffee trade. Norway, in particular, was a major importer of Surinamese coffee during the height of its production. This trade relationship highlights how colonial routes shaped early coffee consumption patterns in Europe. However, as production ceased, so did its trade ties, and Norway now sources coffee from many other origins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Suriname the first place in South America to grow coffee?

Yes. Suriname, then part of Dutch Guiana, was the first country in South America to cultivate coffee, beginning in the early 18th century. Coffee trees were introduced from Java by the Dutch around 1700 and planted in what is now Suriname.

Who brought coffee to Suriname?

The first coffee trees were brought from Java by the Dutch and given to a Flemish pirate named Hansback by the mayor of Amsterdam. These trees were planted in Dutch Guiana, now Suriname, in the early 1700s.

How did coffee spread from Suriname to French Guiana?

Coffee cultivation spread to French Guiana shortly after it began in Suriname. A French convict named Mourgues was offered freedom and amnesty in return for introducing coffee to French Guiana, and he successfully did so.

Did Suriname ever produce coffee commercially?

Yes, Suriname did produce coffee commercially in the 18th and possibly early 19th centuries, but it no longer does. The industry declined and disappeared long ago, and there is no modern Surinamese coffee production.

Why is Suriname no longer a coffee-producing country?

The article does not state the exact reasons for the decline, but Suriname has not produced coffee commercially for decades. Its coffee industry faded completely, leaving no current production or exports.

Which countries imported Surinamese coffee?

Norway was a major importer of Surinamese coffee during the time when it was still produced. However, as production stopped, those imports ceased, and Norway now sources coffee from other origins.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Historic Coffee Curiosity

If you’re intrigued by the story of early South American coffee, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for bright floral notes with bergamot and jasmine; their Panama Humbera offers complex stone fruit and caramel; or their Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 for mild, balanced profiles with nutty undertones. All are single-origin coffees with deep histories in global trade. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.