Who Actually Drinks Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee?
Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee remains scarce and costly, and official trade data from the WTO and China Customs show why. Over the past five years Japan has held first place among buyers, importing 366 tons in 2015, followed by the United States at 94 tons, the United Kingdom at 32 tons, Germany at 17 tons, Belgium at 16 tons, South Korea at 10 tons, Sweden at 6 tons, Canada at 4 tons, China at 2 tons, and Chinese Taipei at 2 tons.
Jamaica's annual export volumes are small against global demand, and blue mountain coffee typically sells for over ten thousand per barrel, so few buyers import full containers. China ranks seventeenth by trade value despite modest volume, which helps explain why so much domestic "Blue Mountain" product is hard to verify. The article also covers the Blue Mountain terroir, Mavis Bank processing, and a recommended brewing method.
Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee occupies an almost legendary position in the global specialty coffee landscape. Its high price and scarce production leave many enthusiasts both yearning and perplexed. Starting from official trade data, this article will sort out the global export pattern of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee over the past five years and the current state of China's imports, reveal Japan's long-standing dominance in consumption, and take an in-depth look at the terroir conditions of the Blue Mountain producing region and the rigorous craftsmanship of the Mavis Bank processing facility. At the same time, we will also answer a common question: how authentic is the flood of "Blue Mountain coffee" on the domestic market? Finally, we attach Front Street Coffee's recommended Blue Mountain brewing method to help you understand this Caribbean treasure from a more professional perspective.
According to statistics from the World Trade Organization and China Customs, Jamaica's total annual global exports over the past five years are as follows:
China's imports over the past five years are as follows:
(The above data all come from official statistics and are for reference only.)
Although China performs modestly in terms of import trade volume, and looking at the numbers alone it is even hard to match the consumption scale of a major country... however!
In terms of trade value, China has successfully squeezed into the top twenty, ranking 17th!
Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee costs over ten thousand per barrel.
After all, the price of Jamaican Blue Mountain speaks for itself... the threshold of over ten thousand per barrel means that very few players can import it back home by the full container.
So which countries and regions are the main buyers of Jamaican coffee?
The list of the top ten big spenders in 2015 is as follows:
First place: Japan, 366 tons (securely holding the top spot with an overwhelming advantage for five consecutive years)
Second place: United States, 94 tons
Third place: United Kingdom, 32 tons
Fourth place: Germany, 17 tons
Fifth place: Belgium, 16 tons
Sixth place: South Korea, 10 tons
Seventh place: Sweden, 6 tons
Eighth place: Canada, 4 tons
Ninth place: China, 2 tons
Tenth place: Chinese Taipei, 2 tons
Why has Jamaican Blue Mountain received such enthusiastic pursuit?
The Blue Mountain Range is located in the eastern part of Jamaica, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. On clear days, sunlight shines directly onto the blue sea surface, and the peaks refract a brilliant blue glow like seawater, which is how Blue Mountain got its name. Its main peak is 2,256 meters above sea level, the highest point in the Caribbean region and also a well-known tourist destination. This area lies within the coffee-growing belt, with fertile volcanic soil, clean and pollution-free air, a humid climate, and fog and rain throughout the year (average annual precipitation of about 1,980 mm, with temperatures maintained around 27°C). This combination of climatic conditions and extremely high altitude has nurtured the world-renowned Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee and also created the world's second most expensive coffee.
Why is Jamaican Blue Mountain everywhere in the domestic market, so densely present that it has penetrated Taobao, Tmall, physical stores, and even large supermarkets?
First, it is worth checking whether the packaging says things like "Blue Mountain flavor" or "Blue Mountain blend"... such products are usually not real Jamaican Blue Mountain and are merely riding on its coattails... much like Chinese takeout in Europe, America, and Australia, their credibility is limited.
Jamaica Mavis Bank Blue Mountain NO.1 Jamaica Mavis Bank Blue Mountain NO.1
Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee costs over ten thousand per barrel.
After all, the price of Jamaican Blue Mountain speaks for itself... the threshold of over ten thousand per barrel means that very few players can import it back home by the full container.
Jamaica Mavis Bank Blue Mountain NO.1 Jamaica Mavis Bank Blue Mountain NO.1
Jamaica's legally designated Blue Mountain coffee producing region is named "Blue Mountain" because it is shrouded year-round in blue mist. This producing region is located in eastern Jamaica, stretching 45 kilometers from east to west and 20 kilometers from north to south, with a maximum altitude of 2,260 meters, making it the highest mountain range in the Caribbean. The Blue Mountain area is covered with fertile soil with excellent drainage, making it very suitable for coffee cultivation.
Mavis Bank is located within Jamaica's legally designated Blue Mountain region and is also one of the green bean processing facilities certified by the Jamaican government. It is about 10 miles northeast of the capital, Kingston, and has been operated by the Munn Family since 1885.
At first, the Munn family cultivated and processed harvested coffee cherries at Strawberry Hill on the western side of the Blue Mountains. In 1920, Victor Munn founded what is now the Mavis Bank processing facility, which was later taken over and managed by Victor's nephew Keble Munn. Keble was not only an agricultural operator but also Jamaica's first certified cupper. Today, Mavis Bank is Jamaica's largest coffee collection and distribution center. To ensure stable quality, the processing facility gathers green beans from single farms or smallholders in specific Blue Mountain producing areas. The coffee cultivation and processing areas are distributed across mountainous terrain at an average altitude of 1,600 to 900 meters. Sufficient altitude, the shade provided to the mountain forests by gentle afternoon clouds, abundant sunshine, and mineral-rich soil provide superior growing conditions for coffee trees and also extend the ripening cycle of the coffee cherries.
In the green bean processing stage, only ripe red cherries are picked, and manual sorting followed by the elimination of floating cherries is a basic requirement. Farmers send the selected coffee cherries to another washing station for a second round of selection, and the pulp is removed before evening. They are then placed in large tanks, where any over-fermented, unripe, or insect-damaged cherries are carefully removed before the mucilage removal process begins. After mucilage removal, the parchment beans are spread on concrete slabs and sun-dried for five days, then bagged and stored in warehouses to rest for at least ten weeks. Finally, after hulling, the green beans must undergo another manual defect-removal process. Mavis Bank has Jamaica's most complete green bean processing equipment, with 6,000 partner farmers. Under the management of the Munn family, it established the globally renowned and quality-guaranteed trademark M.B.C.F.
No.1 grade Blue Mountain coffee, strictly selected for bean size of 17/18 screen and a defect rate below 2%.
[FrontStreet Coffee's recommended Blue Mountain coffee brewing method]
KONO dripper; water temperature: 84-86°C; grind size: Fuji Royal 4 (medium grind); coffee-to-water ratio: 1:13-1:14; extraction time: 1 minute 50 seconds.
Purchase link: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3-c.w4002-15673140470.10.6e7aac72rmuIS9&id=541007639512
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
