The history of coffee growing in Jamaica began in 1728, when the Governor Nicholas Lawes received a coffee seedling as a gift and planted it near the town of Saint Andrew. It took until the second half of the 18th century for coffee to become a substantial industry though, with coffee mainly being grown on small plantations located in the island's mountainous regions. Altitudes range from around 500 all the way up to 1,600 meters above sea level (masl).
The famous growing region in the Blue Mountain range is Jamaica's most important growing region, producing one of the most famous and expensive coffees in the world. Known as Jamaica Blue Mountain, these special beans are a derivative if the Arabica variety Typica, which is grown at altitudes between 900 and 1,500 masl in a cool mountain climate under the cover of dense fog.
Jamaican coffee hits hard with a lot of flavour, a full body and a soft, velvety palate. The low acidity and pleasant sweetness and notes of nuts and fruits characterise these diverse coffees.
