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Characteristics of Authentic Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee and Why It's Expensive - How Does Blue Mountain No. 1 Coffee Bean Taste

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, For more professional coffee knowledge and coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). Blue Mountain flavored coffee tastes similar to Blue Mountain coffee, but it's not genuine Blue Mountain. It's made by blending different flavored coffee beans to approximate the taste of Blue Mountain coffee - to put it bluntly, it's a counterfeit product.

Understanding Blue Mountain Coffee and Its Imitators

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style).

Blue Mountain flavored coffee tastes similar to Blue Mountain coffee, but it's not genuine Blue Mountain. It's made by blending different flavored coffee beans to approximate the taste of Blue Mountain coffee. In simple terms, it's a counterfeit product. The purpose is to reduce costs, and because Blue Mountain coffee has low production while market demand is high, such "Blue Mountain flavored coffee beans" have emerged.

What is Blue Mountain Coffee?

Blue Mountain coffee refers to coffee brewed from beans grown in Jamaica's Blue Mountains. These are further categorized by grade into Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee and Jamaica High Mountain coffee. The Blue Mountain range is located in the eastern part of Jamaica Island. When the weather is clear, the sun shines directly on the azure Caribbean Sea, and the peaks reflect the brilliant blue light of the seawater, hence the name. The highest peak of Blue Mountain reaches 2,256 meters, making it the highest peak in the Caribbean region.

This area is situated in the coffee belt with fertile volcanic soil, fresh air free from pollution, and a humid climate with year-round fog and rain (average precipitation of 1,980 mm and temperature around 27°C). Such climate conditions have created the world-renowned Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, as well as the second most expensive coffee in the world.

Blue Mountain Coffee Flavor Profile

The flavor is rich and mellow, with a perfect balance of coffee's sweetness, acidity, and bitterness. It has no bitter taste at all, only moderate and perfect acidity, with a persistent fruity aftertaste.

The "Secret" Behind Blue Mountain Coffee's Pure Taste

Their coffee trees all grow on rugged mountain slopes, making the harvesting process extremely difficult. Only local skilled female workers can handle this challenging task. It's crucial to select coffee beans that are perfectly ripe during harvesting—under-ripe or overripe beans will affect the coffee quality. After harvesting, the coffee beans must be hulled the same day, then fermented for 12-18 hours. Following this, the coffee beans undergo washing and screening.

The next step is sun-drying, which must be conducted on concrete floors or thick blankets until the coffee beans' moisture content drops to 12%-14%. Then they are stored in special warehouses. When needed, they are taken out for roasting and then ground into powder. These procedures must be strictly controlled; otherwise, the coffee quality will be affected.

Authenticity and Availability

China's imported coffee bean trading networks all say Blue Mountain is good, and indeed it is. But can you be sure you're drinking real Blue Mountain? There are genuine products available in China, but it's very difficult to pick out a real one among thousands of fakes.

Blue Mountain is a region in Jamaica. The most famous estate producing premium Blue Mountain is Wallenford, also the most renowned coffee estate. Premium Blue Mountain is very expensive. Other estates' cheaper Blue Mountain, even if produced in Jamaica, may not reach the required altitude. Although their quality is relatively good among specialty beans, they ultimately cannot compare to premium Blue Mountain.

Production and Distribution

The supply of Blue Mountain coffee is extremely limited. In 1717, French King Louis XV ordered coffee cultivation in Jamaica. In the mid-1720s, Jamaica's Governor Sir Nicholas Lawes imported Arabica seeds from Martinique and began promoting cultivation in the St. Andrew area.

To this day, St. Andrew remains one of Jamaica's three major Blue Mountain coffee producing regions, with the other two being Portland and St. Thomas. Within 8 years, Jamaica exported over 375 tons of pure coffee. In 1932, coffee production reached its peak, with over 15,000 tons harvested.

Currently, the world's recognized Jamaica Blue Mountain growing area is only 6,000 hectares, with annual production of only about 40,000 bags of Blue Mountain coffee. In 1969, Jamaica was affected by a hurricane that brought production difficulties. Japan's UCC company provided assistance. In gratitude, Jamaica signed a contract with Japan in 1972, providing 90% of production to the Japanese market, with the remaining 10% (about 3,500 barrels of 70kg oak barrels) sold on the market (also the only coffee still packaged in oak barrels).

According to Jamaica CIB export statistics as of 2013, of the limited Blue Mountain No. 1 quota, 85% is allocated to Japan, 5% to the United States, 5% to Europe, and 5% to other countries.

Conclusion

Therefore, conscientious merchants in both domestic and international markets will tell customers that they are selling blended Blue Mountain, Blue Mountain blend, Blue Mountain flavored coffee, or Blue Mountain-style coffee beans—not genuine Blue Mountain coffee. Real Blue Mountain and Blue Mountain flavor are two different concepts. Generally, other bean varieties are roasted to imitate the taste of Blue Mountain coffee.

People who can truly drink Blue Mountain No. 1 and premium Blue Mountain will never find them in supermarkets or stores, unless in Japan or from roasters with certain capabilities and conscience—they are as precious as gems.

So regarding the term "Blue Mountain," don't pursue it blindly. If you haven't reached the corresponding tasting and discrimination ability, you won't be able to drink real Blue Mountain. Genuine Blue Mountain coffee and Blue Mountain flavored coffee beans are two completely different concepts.

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