Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Blue Mountain Coffee

By gourmetcoffee2you

Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is known for its mild flavor, and as the coffee industry has grown in popularity, Blue Mountain coffee has become one of the most expensive and desired coffees in the world. Part of the reason for this coffee's expense are the strict regulations as to what coffee can be classified as Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.

Specific rules govern where the blue mountain coffee is grown, the beans must then go through a specific standards to earn the jamaican blue mountain label. The beans are harvested from Saint Andrew, Portland, Saint Thomas, and Saint Mary on the eastern side of Jamaica. The coffee beans must be grown between three thousand and five thousand feet.

Jamaican blue mountain coffee is graded, based on appearance, size, and permitted defects. In Blue Mountain Nos. 1, 2, and 3, not more than 2% of the beans may have defects that are significant. The difference in these three grades of Blue Mountain coffee comes in the size of the beans. In No. 1, for example, 96% of the beans have to have a screen size of 17/20. In No. 2, the size must be 16/17, and in No. 3, 15/16. Blue Mountain Peaberry requires that 96% of the beans have to be peaberry, and no more than 2% can have defects of significance. Blue Mountain Triage is a little different. It contains beans from the various classifications, and not more than 4% of the beans can have defects of significance.

Due to the strict restrictions,the coffee that carries the label Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee has earned it. Not only is the growing and harvesting of the beans highly regulated, but even the size and perfection of the individual beans is taken into consideration before the coffee is given the Blue Mountain label. This shows how unique Blue Mountain coffee is, and why its flavor is rated so highly all over the world. Its cultivation is highly regulated and monitored by the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica. The care that is taken in its growth, harvest, and distribution have ensured that Blue Mountain coffee is of the highest quality, the best flavor, and among the best coffee in the world.

In addition to being brewed as coffee, Blue Mountain coffee beans are used as the base of flavor in Tia Maria liqueur. This liqueur is also only made in Jamaica, and is similar to coffee liqueurs such as Kahlua. This liqueur has only added to the prestige and desirability of the coffee.

Anyone who loves coffee knows what makes a great cup. And anyone who wants a great cup of coffee knows that Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is just the thing. Its mild flavor and exceptional quality have helped make it the most desired coffee in the world. It's considered the best for a reason. - 16651

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