Ethiopian Coffee Culture: Numerous Ethiopian Coffee Varieties Hailed as the Gene Bank of Coffee

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FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Ethiopian Coffee Culture

The Name "Coffee" Originates from Ethiopia's Kaffa

Ethiopia, located in East Africa, means "the land where people darkened by the sun live" in ancient Greek. Ethiopia's unique cultural traditions, pleasant climate, rich flora and fauna resources, important historical sites, and hospitable people make it one of Africa's major tourist destinations.

Did you know? The "roots" of coffee are in Ethiopia. It is said that the English word "coffee" also originates from the Ethiopian place name "Kaffa."

Legend has it that around 900 AD, a shepherd in Ethiopia's Kaffa region discovered his flock competing to eat a type of red berry while grazing in the mountains. After eating these berries, the sheep became unusually lively and excited. The shepherd, worried that his sheep had eaten something harmful, was on edge all night. To his surprise, the flock was completely safe the next day. This accidental discovery prompted the shepherd to collect these wild fruits and boil them to quench his thirst. He found the juice incredibly aromatic and felt unusually energized after drinking it. Thus, he began to cultivate this plant, leading to the development of large-scale coffee cultivation. The name "coffee" evolved from "Kaffa." Afterwards, coffee spread from Ethiopia to the entire world.

Coffee as Pure as Thoroughbred Horses

Ethiopia grows coffee in different climate zones, thus possessing over 140 farmer varieties, with fresh coffee available year-round. Ethiopian coffee quality varies depending on different altitudes and regional ecological environments.

Interestingly, Ethiopians also place horse photos on coffee packaging to indicate the purity of their coffee. It is said that in the era when horses were the primary means of transportation, Ethiopia had the world's best Arabian purebred horses. Ethiopians took pride in this, and now they extend this pride to Ethiopian coffee, believing that "premium coffee should be as pure as thoroughbred horses." By adhering to this philosophy, the taste of coffee here remains so mellow and authentic today.

Among coffee-producing countries, Ethiopia holds a legendary status, not only because it is the "birthplace" of Arabica coffee but also because it is completely different from other places in the coffee world. Unlike most coffee-growing countries, coffee trees in this nation were not introduced through colonial economic crops. Instead, planting, processing, and drinking coffee have become part of local people's daily lives for hundreds of years. People discovered coffee trees growing wild in forests and eventually began cultivating them for household use and commercial sales.

Furthermore, Ethiopia's coffee genetic diversity is unparalleled globally. Local coffee genetic material is 99% more diverse than the rest of the world combined. Accompanied by its bold floral and fruity notes, delicate acidity, it is revered and loved by numerous coffee professionals and enthusiasts, opening our eyes to its wonders.

Knowledge Point

Ethiopia, one of the world's least developed countries, has been recognized as the origin of Arabica coffee species, and could even be said to be the origin of coffee itself.

In Summary

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