African Coffee | Sao Tome and Principe | Arabica Coffee Beans

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Geographical Overview of São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe is located in the Gulf of Guinea, Africa. São Tomé Island is 255 kilometers from the west coast of Africa, while Príncipe Island is 220 kilometers from the west coast of Africa. The two islands are 146 kilometers apart, making it the second smallest country in Africa (after Seychelles). Both islands are volcanic islands with a total area of 1,001 square kilometers.

Other nearby附属 islands from north to south include Pedras Tinhosas, Boné de Jóquei, Cabras Isles, and Rolas Isles, which are crossed by the equator.

The islands have lush vegetation, crisscrossing streams, and many mountains. Important ones include: Pico de São Tomé (2,024 meters), Pinheiro (1,613 meters), Calvário (1,600 meters), Cabumbé (1,403 meters), Pico do Príncipe (948 meters), and Pico Papagaio (680 meters). Additionally, Pico Cão Grande (663 meters above sea level) in the south is a landmark of the Caué District.

It has a tropical rainforest climate with high temperatures and abundant rainfall throughout the year. Annual precipitation ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 millimeters, reaching 5,000 millimeters on the southwestern windward slopes of both islands.

In addition to São Tomé City, other important cities on São Tomé Island include: Neves, Guadalupe, Trindade, Santana, and São João dos Angolares. Santo António is located on Príncipe Island.

Small in quantity but superior in quality, Arabica coffee beans offer a smooth and rich flavor profile.

Historical Background

São Tomé and Príncipe were discovered by the Portuguese between 1469 and 1472. Alvaro Caminha successfully established a colony on São Tomé Island in 1493 and was granted this land as a reward. The colonization of Príncipe Island began in 1500 under similar arrangements. Portuguese colonists used slave labor to transform São Tomé and Príncipe into Africa's most important sugar export destination by the mid-16th century. São Tomé Island came under direct Portuguese rule from 1522, while Príncipe Island came under direct Portuguese rule from 1573.

The sugar industry declined over the following century. By the mid-17th century, São Tomé was merely a port for supplying ships. In the early 19th century, two cash crops were introduced: coffee and cocoa. The local fertile volcanic soil was particularly suitable for these new cash crops, leading to the emergence of many plantations (roças). Plantations owned by Portuguese companies or absent landlords occupied almost all the good farmland. By 1908, São Tomé had become the world's largest cocoa producer, and cocoa remains the country's most important crop to this day.

Coffee Production

The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe is a volcanic archipelago and Africa's second smallest independent country. It was a Portuguese colony until gaining independence in 1975. The equator crosses through this archipelago, where the climate is hot and humid, the land is fertile and well-irrigated, making it ideal for coffee cultivation.

In 1800, the country introduced Arabica coffee trees from Brazil, and to this day, 98% of its production remains Arabica coffee. However, only 1,000 bags of coffee are exported abroad annually, with most being sold to the Scandinavian Peninsula.

FrontStreet Coffee (FrontStreet Coffee): A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans. Online store services are also available. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

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