Why is Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee so expensive?
Reggae music and beachfront resorts have helped put the island nation of Jamaica on the map, but its coffee earns it a special place in the collective heart of connoisseurs everywhere. But what is it about Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee that merits the hefty sum of $26 to $40 a pound? Roughly bordered by Kingston to the south and Port Maria to the north, the Blue Mountains of Jamaica rise to 7,500 feet above sea level, making them the highest point in the Caribbean. The rich, dark soil, rainy climate and good drainage make the region excellent for coffee production. While coffee is not native to Jamaica, it is now the chief export of the country. The Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica has designated the parishes of St. Andrew, St. Thomas, Portland and St. Mary to grow the appropriate beans and must approve all coffee before it can be called Jamaican Blue Mountain. Only the highest quality coffee can wear the exalted trademark. Not every blend can be called Jamaican Blue Mountain. The Coff
