What is Rainforest Alliance Certification? What Are "Frog Beans"?

The term "Frog Bean" may be unfamiliar to many people, as it is currently quite niche and only mentioned in relation to certain coffee beans. Consequently, many people wonder what exactly "Frog Beans" are. Does it describe the appearance of coffee beans?

Actually, "Frog Beans" refer to coffee beans certified by the Rainforest Alliance. After receiving Rainforest Alliance certification, these beans are marked with a green frog logo, hence the nickname "Frog Beans."

Rainforest Alliance

The Rainforest Alliance (RA) is a non-profit international non-governmental environmental protection organization. Its mission is to protect biodiversity and achieve sustainable livelihoods by changing land use patterns, business practices, and consumer behavior. Additionally, it is recognized by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an international forest certification system.

The organization was established in 1987 by American environmentalist writer, speaker, and activist Daniel R. Katz, along with many environmental supporters. Initially focused solely on protecting the natural resources of tropical rainforests, it gradually expanded into more areas as the organization grew. In 2018, the Rainforest Alliance announced its merger with UTZ (formerly known as Utz Kapeh).

UTZ was a non-profit, non-governmental, independent certification body based on the EurepGAP (EU Good Agricultural Practices) standards. This certification body strictly certified various high-quality coffees worldwide, covering every production step from coffee cultivation to processing. After independent review of coffee production's environmental, social, and economic aspects, UTZ would grant its responsible coffee logo.

Merger and Certification Standards

The merged organization retained the name "Rainforest Alliance" and issues certificates to farms and forestry enterprises that meet comprehensive standards, known as "Rainforest Alliance Certification." Part of the alliance's revenue is also used for wildlife protection in tropical rainforest conservation areas and improving workers' living conditions.

According to current Rainforest Alliance certification standards, which consist of three sectors—nature conservation, farming methods, and community social responsibility—detailed regulations cover aspects such as forest protection, water pollution prevention, labor conditions, chemical fertilizer usage, and waste management. Simply put, this approach emphasizes traditional farming methods that cultivate coffee under the shade of native forests without altering the original environment, benefiting ecological conservation.

Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee

Coffee beans are agricultural products and thus eligible for evaluation. Only coffee that passes evaluation and receives certification can be called "Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee." The certification is valid for three years, during which the Rainforest Alliance logo may be printed on the packaging of green coffee beans. This logo not only signifies that the product has received recognition but also provides significant quality assurance for the coffee itself and grants access to special sales channels and priority placement.

Additionally, the Rainforest Alliance logo is distinctive—it's not an ordinary frog but a red-eyed tree frog. This species of tree frog typically lives in healthy, unpolluted tropical rainforests and is relatively rare. Furthermore, frogs are one of the common indicators used to assess environmental pollution levels. Combined with the Rainforest Alliance's original mission to protect tropical rainforests, the organization adopted the frog as its standard in its second year of establishment and has continued to use it ever since.

Frog Beans at FrontStreet Coffee

Currently, "Frog Beans" with Rainforest Alliance certification remain relatively uncommon, mainly due to the high requirements for growing environments and the fact that not all coffee farmers apply for certification. At FrontStreet Coffee, we offer Rainforest Alliance certified coffee beans, including Diamond Mountain coffee beans from Panama's Hacienda La Esmeralda estate, as well as Blue Mountain coffee produced by Jamaica's Clifton Mount estate.

Clifton Mount estate has become the only estate in Jamaica with "Rainforest Alliance" certification. FrontStreet Coffee's Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee comes from this very estate, offering nutty and cocoa flavors with a silky texture and overall balance.

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