How to Distinguish Blue Mountain Coffee Beans from Blue Mountain Flavored Coffee Beans & The Taste Profile of Blue Mountain Flavored Coffee

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Understanding Blue Mountain Coffee

Anyone familiar with coffee has likely heard of Blue Mountain Coffee and knows of its fame and preciousness. Looking around, supermarkets and coffee shops prominently display signs claiming "Blue Mountain Coffee" or "Blue Mountain flavored coffee beans," but over 90% of these have no real connection to authentic Blue Mountain Coffee.

In reality, authentic Blue Mountain Coffee is extremely rare. Over 90% of Blue Mountain Coffee on the domestic market is fake, or can only be described as "Blue Mountain flavored" coffee, not genuine Blue Mountain Coffee in the true sense.

Are you surprised to learn this? FrontStreet Coffee is here to help fans understand how to identify and drink authentic Blue Mountain Coffee.

Not Just Any Coffee Can Be Called Blue Mountain

Blue Mountain is grown in Jamaica, with the full name "Jamaica Blue Mountain." Many connoisseurs consider Blue Mountain Coffee to be among the world's finest coffees. Its acidity, sweetness, richness, and bitterness are perfectly balanced, with an aromatic flavor that drinks exceptionally smooth and uniquely distinctive.

The growing conditions that produce this flavor are no coincidence - Blue Mountain Coffee's growing environment is not just demanding but extremely stringent. Blue Mountain Coffee can only be cultivated in designated areas of Jamaica's Andrew, Saint Thomas, and Portland parishes.

The common characteristic of these three regions is that they are all located on the eastern side of the island, with elevations ranging between 2,000 and 5,000 feet. Only in this high-altitude environment can coffee beans achieve the density required to be called authentic Blue Mountain Coffee.

Blue Mountain Coffee is also a globally protected certification mark. Jamaican authorities certify and inspect exported Blue Mountain Coffee. Here is the official logo.

So now you understand - Jamaica, this Caribbean island nation with a total area of only 10,991 square kilometers, has only this small area where Blue Mountain Coffee can be grown. Consequently, Jamaica's average annual coffee production is only 15,000 bags (the international standard unit for coffee, approximately 60kg per bag).

If you don't quite grasp the scale, here are the average production figures from other coffee-producing countries:

Brazil: Annual production of 50 million bags

Indonesia: Annual production of 9.7 million bags

Colombia: Annual production of 10.5 million bags

Ethiopia: Annual production of 3.4 million bags

Now you understand the fundamental reason why "rarity makes things precious"?

Why 90% of Blue Mountain Coffee in China is Fake

Is it really true that coffee cannot be grown in other parts of Jamaica outside those few small areas mentioned above? Of course not!

Jamaica's climate itself is very suitable for coffee cultivation. Coffee beans grown at lower altitudes or in other regions can only be called "Jamaica High Mountain" or "Jamaica Washed" beans. Compared to Jamaica Blue Mountain, their flavor profiles are vastly different due to insufficient coffee density. Therefore, these beans require extremely precise roasting - standard roasting would only over-char them, failing to reveal Blue Mountain's tropical coffee characteristics. So even if you see the words "Jamaica" and "Blue Mountain" on packaging, it doesn't necessarily mean you've purchased authentic Blue Mountain Coffee - it's likely one of the two varieties mentioned above.

Over 90% of the world's Blue Mountain Coffee goes to Japan - this is unavoidable, as they had foresight. In 1969, Japan's UCC company invested in Jamaica's struggling coffee cultivation, and in 1972, Jamaica signed a contract with Japan to provide 90% of its annual production to the Japanese market, with only 10% released to Europe and America. This is the real reason why, without legitimate channels, Chinese people felt drinking a cup of Blue Mountain was exceptionally prestigious. UCC exports everywhere - their Blue Mountain Coffee doesn't even need the CIB certification mark, as long as you recognize the UCC trademark.

In recent years, Jamaicans have gradually recognized the enormous potential of the Chinese market and have begun to gradually reduce supply to the Japanese market. Currently, the only certified general agent in China is Zhejiang Dansonray. Despite this, authentic Blue Mountain Coffee is still unlikely to be found in domestic supermarkets. Let me reiterate: so-called "Blue Mountain Blend," "Blue Mountain Mix," "Blue Mountain Flavor," or "Blue Mountain Style" on the domestic market have no connection to Blue Mountain Coffee whatsoever. More conscientious merchants might use other coffee varieties like Colombian beans to create a blend simulating Blue Mountain's taste, while unscrupulous merchants... well, need I say more?

How to Drink Blue Mountain Coffee

With today's developed economy and accessible internet, drinking Blue Mountain Coffee is not impossible. Here are several channels you can choose from:

Purchase UCC's Blue Mountain Coffee in Hong Kong or from legitimate online platforms. This is guaranteed to be authentic. Friends have bought 250g in Hong Kong for around 170 RMB, while 200g of Blue Mountain No. 1 beans on Amazon costs nearly 300 RMB.

Buy from Zhejiang Dansonray, the only certified general agent in China

Look for roasters on Taobao who have obtained Jamaican roasting certification - this really depends on luck and roasting skills. If you're not familiar with them, it's best not to take risks

Drink it when visiting Japan

Have friends abroad bring back beans for you

Look for These Certified Companies or Estates

When bringing back beans, please look for the following companies or estates certified by Jamaican authorities:

1. Mavis Bank (belongs to Jablum Group)

2. Wallenford

Wallenford was formerly the commercial division of the Jamaican Coffee Industry Board and was privatized after 2013

3. Moy Hall

The country's only cooperative coffee estate

4. Clydesdale

A rising star in recent years, and like Mavis Bank, one of Jamaica's largest Blue Mountain export companies. Apologies, but I couldn't find a picture of this one.

5. Clifton Mount Estate

(Still limited production)

6. RSW Estate

Composed of three major estates: Resource Estate, Sherwood Forest Estate, and Whitfield Hall Estate

7. Old Tavern Estate

You can also find more authorized export certification companies and distributors on the CIB official website at http://www.ciboj.org/

Final Thoughts

Actually, Blue Mountain's prestigious status in China is directly related to the "hunger effect" caused by the lack of legitimate channels in the past. In the international market, due to increased competition in the specialty coffee industry in recent years, Blue Mountain's status is no longer what it once was - somewhat past its prime. However, because of its limited production, costs remain high. With frequent disasters in recent years and mediocre performance in international competitions, its cost-performance ratio is quite average. If you truly want to experience island flavor, you might also try Hawaiian Kona, which is of the same variety and also grown on an island, with more stable quality.

For those of you obsessed with Blue Mountain Coffee, this is all the help we can provide!

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans, also providing online services at https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473