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An introduction to the historical and cultural development of coffee in China

Published: 2026-06-08 Author: World Gafei

Last Updated: 2026/06/08, There is no way to examine the source of coffee. One of the many legends refers to the highlands of Cafa province in southwestern Ethiopia. It is said that a shepherd became very excited and lively when he discovered that the sheep had eaten a plant more than a thousand years ago, so he discovered coffee. It is also said that a coffee forest was destroyed by a wildfire, and the smell of barbecue coffee attracted the attention of the surrounding residents.

The origin of the coffee is unknown. One of the legends refers to coffee's origin in the plateau of Kafa Province in southwestern Ethiopia. It is said that a shepherd discovered coffee more than a thousand years ago after he discovered that sheep became very excited and lively after eating a plant. There is also a saying that a wildfire burned down a coffee forest, and the aroma of barbecue coffee attracted the attention of surrounding residents. The fruit of this plant was first chewed for refreshment, then baked and ground into bread mixed with flour as a food for warriors to enhance their courage in battle. However, these legends lack historical documentation and only appear in later travel biographies, so there is no way to verify the true origin of coffee.

It wasn't until around the 11th century that people started brewing coffee as a drink. In the 13th century, Ethiopian troops invaded Yemen, bringing coffee to the Arab world. Because Islam prohibits believers from drinking alcohol, some religious people think this drink stimulates nerves and violates the doctrine, and once banned and closed coffee shops, but Egypt's Sultan thinks coffee does not violate the doctrine, so the ban is lifted, coffee drinks quickly spread in Arab regions. The word Coffee comes from the Arabic Qahwa, meaning "vegetable drink", which later spread to Turkey and became the origin of the word in European languages. Coffee cultivation and production methods have also been continuously improved and gradually perfected by Arabs.

However, before the 15th century AD, coffee was monopolized by the Arab world for a long time, and it was only circulated among Muslim countries; at that time, it was mainly used in medicine and religion. Muslim doctors and monks recognized coffee as refreshing, refreshing, strengthening, and hemostatic; the use of coffee began to be documented in the early 15th century, and it was integrated into religious ceremonies during this period. Because alcohol was forbidden in the Muslim world, coffee became an important social drink at the time. Until the 16th and 17th centuries, coffee was introduced to Europe through the trading of Venetian merchants and maritime hegemonic Dutch. Soon, this black drink full of oriental mystery and fragrant aroma was competed for by the aristocratic gentry class. The price of coffee also rose, and even the title of "black gold" was produced. At that time, the nobles were popular to send coffee beans to each other on special days to show their revelry, or to friends and relatives who had not met for a long time. Congratulations on success, but also a status symbol. And "black gold" in the following turbulent era of great navigation, through the spread of shipping, the world has been included in the production and consumption of coffee in the map

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