The Blue Mountain region of Jamaica, northeast of Kingston, is ringed by a high circle of forested highlands, capped by Blue Mountain Peak that stands at 7402 feet.

Several generations ago the coffee farmers and trade board of this Caribbean island designated appellation status to coffees grown and processed to the highest standards, the exactness of which would make the Bordeaux Controlee in France’s most prestigious wine region happy. In fact, to understand the prestige and consumer value for Blue Mountain Coffee, it’s probably best to describe it as one of our industry’s “first growths”, a la Chateaux Margaux, LaTour or Rothschild. One can argue that you can get an equally inspiring and fine coffee from Kenya or Antigua, but that would be avoiding the fact that it is harder to find an unsatisfying JBM.

Since its introduction in 1725 by Sir Nicholas Lawes, coffee has remained closely linked to Jamaica’s history: In 1807, slaves walked free from the coffee farms in this island after the abolition of slavery; in the 1940’s, the quality of coffee deteriorated so much that Canada quit buying coffee from Jamaica; in 1981, Japan stepped in to help farmers in need by providing development aid for the development of coffee production zones…These and many other milestones in the history of Jamaica are tied to its coffee.

Today, the awe-inspiring Blue Mountains in eastern Jamaica are the growing grounds for the bold blue-green beans of Blue Mountain coffee: a coffee so world renowned there is almost something of a myth about it. Some say the Blue Mountains inspire them to dream, some say it is a land of “One love”- one of Jamaica’s favorite sayings. One thing is for sure: Blue Mountain coffee is excellent coffee from a beautiful place, a place rich in history and culture.

Our Jamaican Blue Mountain comes from the Blue Mountain Coffee Cooperative (BMCC) which has been in operation since 1949. The cooperative has about 700 members, most of whom are small farmers with small plots – from ½ acres to 10 acres. Most of the coffee trees are “Typica”, an older heirloom-type Arabica tree that produces delicious coffee. They are located about 3,000 feet above sea level northeast of Kingston in the district of Cedar Valley, St Thomas on a property known as Moy Hall Estate.

Cherry coffee is collected at the lowest elevation of 2,700 feet and at the highest in Penlyne Castle at 4,800 feet. The mill, called the Moy Hall Factory, is located on over 1,200 acres of lands owned by the Cooperative. The Cooperative has a rigid quality process and only freshly picked cherry coffee is purchased from farmers. The water used in the processing originates from densely populated tropical rain forest deep in the Blue Mountains.

In order to help farmers, the Cooperative offers services like soil testing, soil conservation training, plant training, pests & diseases control with emphasis on non chemical methods, a fertilizer revolving credit program and educational support to farmers’ children.