A coffee history
Coffee is said to have originated from the Horn of Africa, and initially it was taken as a form of food rather than a beverage. East African tribe known as Galla would grind the coffee cherries and mix it together with animal fat. This mixture is said to give the much-needed energy for the warriors. Coffee grew in abundance in the Arabian Peninsula, and in the 11th century coffee was first developed into a drink.
During ancient times, the stimulating effects of the coffee were thought by many as some form of religious ecstasy. Thus, it is not surprised that coffee earned a rather mystical sort of reputation, always associated with witch doctors, shaman and priest. According to one story, a goat herder from Ethiopia by the name kaldi, noticed his herd of goats were unusually active after consuming the red cherries. Curious, he tasted it himself and was overwhelmed by the revitalizing effects. A group of nearby monks noticed him dancing around with his goats, and soon they started boiling the cherries themselves and use the liquid for their meditation.
Some Christians believed that coffee were the devil's drink. Pope Vincent III heard this and decided to give it a try before banishing it. He enjoyed it so much he baptized it, saying: "coffee is so delicious it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it."
In the mid 17th century the Dutch dominated the world's merchant shipping industry, and they brought along coffee cultivation to their colonies in the Indonesian archipelago. In the 19th century, a rare disease swept through coffee plantations in South East Asia. As a result, Brazil emerged as the world's top coffee producer, a title the country still holds.
During ancient times, the stimulating effects of the coffee were thought by many as some form of religious ecstasy. Thus, it is not surprised that coffee earned a rather mystical sort of reputation, always associated with witch doctors, shaman and priest. According to one story, a goat herder from Ethiopia by the name kaldi, noticed his herd of goats were unusually active after consuming the red cherries. Curious, he tasted it himself and was overwhelmed by the revitalizing effects. A group of nearby monks noticed him dancing around with his goats, and soon they started boiling the cherries themselves and use the liquid for their meditation.
Some Christians believed that coffee were the devil's drink. Pope Vincent III heard this and decided to give it a try before banishing it. He enjoyed it so much he baptized it, saying: "coffee is so delicious it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it."
In the mid 17th century the Dutch dominated the world's merchant shipping industry, and they brought along coffee cultivation to their colonies in the Indonesian archipelago. In the 19th century, a rare disease swept through coffee plantations in South East Asia. As a result, Brazil emerged as the world's top coffee producer, a title the country still holds.
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