Is Blue Mountain Coffee Really Imported to China?

If you’ve paid premium prices for what was sold as ‘Blue Mountain coffee’ in a Chinese café, there’s a good chance you were misled. Recent reports and an official statement confirm that what many cafés and retailers claim as ‘imported Blue Mountain beans’ aren’t what they seem.

Jamaica has never officially exported raw Blue Mountain coffee beans to China. That means any café claiming to roast ‘imported Blue Mountain beans’ is not telling the truth.

What Is Blue Mountain Coffee — Really?

Blue Mountain coffee isn’t just a marketing term. It refers strictly to coffee grown in a specific region of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains — between 910 and 1,700 metres altitude — and certified by Jamaica’s Coffee Industry Board. The area’s high elevation, volcanic soil, consistent rainfall, and cool climate contribute to the coffee’s renowned balance and smooth profile. These factors also severely limit production: less than 2,500 metric tonnes per year, globally.

Why Aren’t There Real Blue Mountains in China’s Cafés?

According to Jamaican Ambassador to China Courtney Rattray, Jamaica has never shipped raw Blue Mountain coffee beans directly to China. That makes it impossible for any local roaster to have ‘imported and roasted’ genuine Blue Mountain beans. Even if roasted beans were imported, they must carry the official Jamaica Coffee Industry Board Blue Mountain seal — which none of the tested samples in Beijing’s cafés displayed.

The ambassador also confirmed that the annual production is extremely limited, with most Blue Mountain coffee historically going to Japan. That leaves very little available for other markets — especially not at the prices many Chinese cafés charge.

What’s Being Sold as ‘Blue Mountain’ in Beijing?

Despite the facts, several cafés in Beijing continue to sell drinks labelled as ‘Blue Mountain coffee’. At an UBAT Coffee branch on Beijing’s Jinbao Street, the menu still offers a 38 RMB and a 68 RMB ‘Blue Mountain coffee’, with no indication it’s flavoured. Staff stated they had not received instructions to change. The most expensive option is 68 RMB — far below the minimum 100 RMB retail price needed to justify real Blue Mountain coffee.

The manager admitted they don’t serve real Blue Mountain. “We use lower-grade beans. No one really has real Blue Mountain,” he said.

When approached, the UBAT headquarters in Beijing refused to stop selling the product. “We’re not at fault,” said a headquarters representative. “We produce our own blend. Consumers understand it as ‘Blue Mountain-flavoured’ coffee.” He added that the company began blending its own version over ten years ago, claiming global Blue Mountain supply couldn’t meet its demand. He also claimed that individual stores using the word ‘Jamaica’ are acting on their own, and not under corporate control.

How to Identify Authentic Blue Mountain Coffee

There are clear ways to verify real Blue Mountain coffee:

• It must come from the defined Blue Mountain region in Jamaica
• It must be certified by the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board
• Imported raw beans are packaged in 15kg, 45kg, or 70kg wooden barrels — a key visual indicator
• Roasted beans must display the official Blue Mountain logo from the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board
• There is no official ‘traceability code’, but importers should have full export documentation and certificates

Without those, any coffee labelled ‘Blue Mountain’ is not the genuine article. FrontStreet Coffee has published a detailed guide on what makes real Blue Mountain unique, including certified images of wooden barrels and estate documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Jamaica ever exported Blue Mountain coffee beans to China?

No. The Jamaican ambassador to China has confirmed that Jamaica has never directly exported raw Blue Mountain coffee beans to China. Any claims of locally roasted ‘imported’ beans are false.

Why is real Blue Mountain coffee so rare?

Blue Mountain coffee is grown in a limited geographic area in Jamaica’s Blue Mountains under strict environmental conditions, yielding less than 2,500 metric tonnes per year. Most production has historically gone to Japan, leaving minimal supply for other global markets.

Are there any certified Blue Mountain coffees available in China?

Yes, certified Blue Mountain coffee can be imported legally, but it must carry the official Jamaica Coffee Industry Board seal and documentation. As of now, there is no evidence that such certified beans are widely available or properly labelled in Chinese cafés.

What should I look for to verify real Blue Mountain coffee?

Look for the official Blue Mountain logo, certification from the Jamaica Coffee Industry Board, and documentation of import. Raw beans should arrive in traditional 15kg, 45kg, or 70kg wooden barrels. Roasted beans must be clearly labelled with the official seal.

Why do some cafés still sell ‘Blue Mountain’ coffee for under 100 RMB?

They are not selling real Blue Mountain. Genuine Blue Mountain coffee typically retails for at least 100 RMB per cup due to limited supply and high production costs. Cheap ‘Blue Mountain’ is almost always a blend or imitation.

Can I trust cafés that say they roast their own Blue Mountain beans?

Unless they can provide proof of importing certified raw beans and show the official Blue Mountain seal, you should be sceptical. Many so-called ‘self-roasted Blue Mountains’ are simply flavoured or low-grade blends.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee for Blue Mountain Fans

FrontStreet Coffee’s Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 is a rare, certified single origin with full export documentation and original wooden barrel packaging. It offers balanced flavours of nuts, dark chocolate, caramel, and a clean, sweet finish — true to the legendary profile of authentic Blue Mountain coffee. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.