Sidama, a specialty of Ethiopia The birthplace of coffee is southwestern Ethiopia on the African continent.
The coffee here refers to the Coffea arabica variety.
The 125 species of coffee tree are found in Africa, Madagascar, and Oceania, and are thought to have originated in Central Africa.
One of these varieties, Arabica, which has been used as coffee since ancient times, is said to originate from southwestern Ethiopia.
By the way, Canephora (Robusta), another species that is consumed as coffee, is native to Central Africa.
At present, based on genetic research, it is believed that Arabica was created through a cross between the ancestors of Canephora and Eugenioides.
The area around Lake Albert on the border area between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is a place where the habitats of both species are close to each other. There is a theory that it survived the Ice Age (see Yukihiro Tanbe's ``The Science of Coffee'').
The coffee here refers to the Coffea arabica variety.
The 125 species of coffee tree are found in Africa, Madagascar, and Oceania, and are thought to have originated in Central Africa.
One of these varieties, Arabica, which has been used as coffee since ancient times, is said to originate from southwestern Ethiopia.
By the way, Canephora (Robusta), another species that is consumed as coffee, is native to Central Africa.
At present, based on genetic research, it is believed that Arabica was created through a cross between the ancestors of Canephora and Eugenioides.
The area around Lake Albert on the border area between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is a place where the habitats of both species are close to each other. There is a theory that it survived the Ice Age (see Yukihiro Tanbe's ``The Science of Coffee'').
The beginning of coffee usage
It is not clear how humans began to use Arabica coffee, including how they encountered it.
A common legend about the discovery of coffee is the story of Kaldi the goatherd, but of course this is folklore, and in books from the 1600s, the story is said to have taken place not in Ethiopia but somewhere in the Middle East, and the name "Kaldi" is also written down. They say they haven't.
Lore aside, the people who actually started using coffee were the many minority tribes in southwestern Ethiopia.
In this area, various uses have been passed down to this day, and it is said that each tribe has its own way of using it, such as drinking the leaves and beans, using it as medicine, and eating the fruit. It is also often used for rituals.
Caffeine's stimulant effects are thought to be involved in these various uses.
By the way, the "coffee ceremony" is known as a unique way to enjoy coffee in Ethiopia. Similar to the Japanese tea ceremony, a room is set up and coffee is served to guests, but this is not something that has been practiced for a long time, but is thought to have been practiced relatively recently.
A common legend about the discovery of coffee is the story of Kaldi the goatherd, but of course this is folklore, and in books from the 1600s, the story is said to have taken place not in Ethiopia but somewhere in the Middle East, and the name "Kaldi" is also written down. They say they haven't.
Lore aside, the people who actually started using coffee were the many minority tribes in southwestern Ethiopia.
In this area, various uses have been passed down to this day, and it is said that each tribe has its own way of using it, such as drinking the leaves and beans, using it as medicine, and eating the fruit. It is also often used for rituals.
Caffeine's stimulant effects are thought to be involved in these various uses.
By the way, the "coffee ceremony" is known as a unique way to enjoy coffee in Ethiopia. Similar to the Japanese tea ceremony, a room is set up and coffee is served to guests, but this is not something that has been practiced for a long time, but is thought to have been practiced relatively recently.
"Coffee Ceremony" held in Ethiopia. Large influence of coffee equipment from the Arab regionFrom Ethiopia to Yemen
The turning point for coffee, which was used in southwestern Ethiopia, to spread to other places is said to have been introduced to Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula across the Red Sea.
Coffee began to be used for drinking purposes in Yemen in the 15th century, and eventually began to be cultivated by hand.
The custom of drinking coffee in the Arab world developed over a long period of time and eventually made its way to Europe in the 17th century, and at the same time coffee was drunk in Western Europe, it was also cultivated in various regions.
Despite this, Yemeni and Ethiopian coffee, shipped from Yemen's Mokha port, has long maintained its position as the highest quality brand.
Ethiopian coffee is called Mocha (Ethiopian Mocha) because Ethiopian coffee has long been shipped from Mocha port in Yemen.
Even after Mocha Port was no longer in use, coffee shipped from this area continued to be called Mocha.
Coffee began to be used for drinking purposes in Yemen in the 15th century, and eventually began to be cultivated by hand.
The custom of drinking coffee in the Arab world developed over a long period of time and eventually made its way to Europe in the 17th century, and at the same time coffee was drunk in Western Europe, it was also cultivated in various regions.
Despite this, Yemeni and Ethiopian coffee, shipped from Yemen's Mokha port, has long maintained its position as the highest quality brand.
Ethiopian coffee is called Mocha (Ethiopian Mocha) because Ethiopian coffee has long been shipped from Mocha port in Yemen.
Even after Mocha Port was no longer in use, coffee shipped from this area continued to be called Mocha.
Ethiopian coffee is diverse
Drying coffee cherries in the Sidama region Ethiopia boasts a long history of involvement with coffee.
Ethiopia is currently attracting attention as a coffee producing region not only because it produces large amounts of high quality coffee.
This is because, due to the historical circumstances mentioned above, there are many varieties of Arabica with a wide variety of genetic characteristics.
There are no systematic cultivars, and coffee arabica varieties with diverse characteristics are cultivated or exist in wild or semi-native forms.
These are collectively called "Ethiopian species" or "Heirroom." It is said that there are more than 10,000 species, but they are a population rich in genetic diversity, so there is little point in classifying them.
Ethiopian coffee, born from this unique historical background, is not only loved by many people for its unique floral, tea-like flavor, but also has the potential to leave much undiscovered. It can be called coffee.
Ethiopia is currently attracting attention as a coffee producing region not only because it produces large amounts of high quality coffee.
This is because, due to the historical circumstances mentioned above, there are many varieties of Arabica with a wide variety of genetic characteristics.
There are no systematic cultivars, and coffee arabica varieties with diverse characteristics are cultivated or exist in wild or semi-native forms.
These are collectively called "Ethiopian species" or "Heirroom." It is said that there are more than 10,000 species, but they are a population rich in genetic diversity, so there is little point in classifying them.
Ethiopian coffee, born from this unique historical background, is not only loved by many people for its unique floral, tea-like flavor, but also has the potential to leave much undiscovered. It can be called coffee.
Why not have your favorite Ethiopian coffee roasted by your favorite roaster and enjoy CROWD ROASTER ?
