Kona coffee

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Kona coffee is the market name for coffee ( Coffea arabica ) cultivated on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South Kona Districts of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Only coffee from the Kona Districts can be described as "Kona." The weather of sunny mornings, clouds or rain in the afternoon, little wind, and mild nights combined with porous, mineral-rich volcanic soil create favorable coffee-growing conditions. The loanword for coffee in the Hawaiian language is kope, pronounced [ˈkope] . [1]

Contents

Kona coffee fruits Kona Coffee fruits(2).jpg
Kona coffee fruits

History

Samuel Ruggles brought coffee to the Kona District in 1828 Samuel Ruggles.jpg
Samuel Ruggles brought coffee to the Kona District in 1828

The coffee plant was brought to the Kona district in 1828 by Reverend Samuel Ruggles from Brazilian cuttings. [2] : 9  English merchant Henry Nicholas Greenwell moved to the area and established Kona Coffee as a recognized brand later in the 19th century. The former Greenwell Store and Kona Coffee Living History Farm have since become museums. [3]

In other parts of the Hawaiian islands, it was grown on large plantations, but the 1899 world coffee market crash caused plantation owners to lease land to their workers. [2] : 70  Most were from Japan, brought to work on sugarcane plantations. They worked their leased parcels of 5–12 acres (2–5 hectares) as family concerns, producing large, quality crops.

The tradition of family farms continued throughout Kona. The Japanese-origin families have been joined by Filipinos, mainland Americans, and Europeans. There are approximately 800 Kona coffee farms, with an average size of less than 5 acres (2 ha). In 1997, the total Kona coffee area was 2,290 acres (927 ha), and green coffee production was just over two million pounds.

Kona Coffee Belt

The Kona Coffee Belt is a recognized terroir located on Hualalai Mountain and Mauna Loa, ranging from 500 to 3200 feet above sea level. [4] It starts from Hawaii Route 190 on Palani Road, with Makalei being its most northern section, includes Koloko, goes through Hawaii Route 180, also called North Kona Road or Kona Heritage Corridor, passes through Holualoa, and merges with Hawaii Route 11 at Kainaliu and extends through Kealakekua and Hōnaunau.

The area is characterized by average rainfall (60+ inches per year average), slightly acidic, well-drained volcanic soil, mild temperature swings from day to night (85 degrees day, 60 degrees night average), sunny morning and cloudy afternoons, flowering in the dry season, fruiting during the wet season, and wind-protected western slopes.

Growing and processing

Kona coffee blooms in February and March. Small white flowers known as "Kona snow" cover the tree. Green berries appear in April. By late August, red fruit, called "cherry" because it resembles a cherry, starts to ripen for picking. Each tree, hand-picked several times between August and January, provides around 15 pounds of cherry, which results in about two pounds of roasted coffee.

Within 24 hours of picking, the cherry is run through a pulper. The beans are separated from the pulp and placed overnight in a fermentation tank. The fermentation time is about 12 hours at low elevations or 24 at higher elevations. The beans are rinsed and spread to dry on a hoshidana or drying rack. Traditional hoshidanas have a rolling roof to cover the beans in the rain. It takes seven to 14 days to dry beans to an optimal moisture level of between 10 and 13% (by Hawaii Department of Agriculture regulations: 9.0–12.0%). Too much moisture in coffee allows the growth of ochratoxin A, a harmful mycotoxin hazardous to human health. [5] From here, the beans are stored as "pergamino" or parchment. The parchment is milled off the green bean before roasting or wholesale.

Old mill at the Kona Coffee Living History Farm Kona Coffee Living History Farm mill.jpg
Old mill at the Kona Coffee Living History Farm

Kona coffee beans are classified by law according to seed. [6] Type I beans consist of two beans per cherry, flat on one side, oval on the other. Type II beans consist of one round bean per cherry, otherwise known as peaberries. Further grading of these two types of beans depends on size, moisture content, and purity of bean type. Type I Kona coffee grades are 'Kona Extra Fancy,' 'Kona Fancy,' 'Kona Number 1', 'Kona Select,' and 'Kona Prime.' Type II Kona coffee grades are 'Peaberry Number 1' and 'Peaberry Prime.' Also, a lower grade of coffee, called 'Number 3' (or 'Triple X'), can not legally be labeled as "Kona" but as 'Hawaiian' coffee. Any bean grade below Number 3 is considered 'Offgrade' coffee and can only be labeled generic. Not an official classification grade, but commonly used by Kona coffee farmers, is the 'Estate' grade, which consists of various separate grades except for removing the 'Number 3' and 'Offgrade' beans.

Infestations of the root-knot nematode damaged many trees in the Kona districts in the 1990s. Symptoms are single or clusters of trees with stunted growth, especially when transplanted. [7] In 2001, rootstock from the Coffea liberica species was found resistant to the nematodes. It could be grafted with Coffea arabica 'Guatemala' variety to produce a plant that naturally resists the pest, still producing a quality coffee product. The combination was named after Edward T. Fukunaga (1910–1984), who was superintendent of the University of Hawaii's Kona Research Station in Kainaliu in the 1950s through the 1970s. [8]

Kona blends

Because of the rarity and price of Kona coffee, some retailers sell "Kona Blends." These are not a combination of different Kona coffees but a blend of Kona and Colombian, Brazilian, or other foreign coffees. Usually, they contain only the minimum required 10% Kona coffee and 90% cheaper imported beans. [9]

Current Hawaiian law requires blends to state only the percentage of Kona coffee on the label but not any other coffee origins. There is no matching Federal law. Some retailers use terms such as 'Kona Roast' or 'Kona Style.' To be considered authentic Kona coffee (without the word "blend" on the label), the state of Hawaii's labeling laws require the prominent display of the words "100% Kona Coffee".[ citation needed ]

In 1993 the Kona Coffee Council, a regional coffee growers association, tried unsuccessfully to protect the name "Kona Coffee" by trademarking its logo with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. They were opposed by Kona Kai Farms, Inc, Captain Cook Coffee Co., Hawaiian Isles Enterprises, and Hawaii Coffee Company. In 2000 the Department of Agriculture of the State of Hawaii registered a "100% Kona Coffee" certification mark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. [10] Administration in regard to this certification mark was handed over by the State Department of Agriculture to the Hawaii Coffee Company, part of Topa Equities Ltd, based in Los Angeles.[ citation needed ]

Kona coffee farmers launched a class action lawsuit against some of the largest retailers in the United States on February 27, 2019. The Lanham Act permits a civil action for, among other reasons, "false designation of origin." Walmart, Costco, Amazon, Safeway, and Kroger were among the sellers and producers of 19 brands of coffee allegedly marketed as Kona coffee that were named in the complaint. Several companies agreed to a settlement in March 2021 totaling more than $13.1 million to benefit Kona coffee farmers. [11]

Recent developments

In the 1990s, Kona coffee growers sued a company called Kona Kai Farms, based in Berkeley, California. In October 1996, federal officials in San Francisco indicted Kona Kai Farms executive Michael Norton on wire fraud and money laundering charges. He was found to have put Central American coffee into bags with labels indicating it was Kona coffee since 1993. [12] In 2000 Norton pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of tax evasion. [5] [13]

Some Kona farms have become successful tourist attractions. Although some roadside stands are allowed with special permits, large gift shops in some areas that are zoned agricultural have met local resistance. [14]

Former Mayor of Hawaii County Stephen Yamashiro, who served from 1992 to 2000, is credited with introducing the "100% Kona Coffee" logo and emblem now used by the industry. [15]

Coffee berry borer infestation

Coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), the most harmful beetle to the arabica coffee crop, was discovered in Kona coast plantations in September 2010 by a graduate student of the University of Hawaii. [16] How the tiny beetle got to Kona is unknown, but the size of the infestation indicates it has been going on for a few years. Some growers suspected severe drought conditions had reduced the fungus Beauveria bassiana , which might have kept the beetle population under control for years. [17]

By late November 2010, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture declared a quarantine on all green (unroasted) beans leaving the island. Fumigation with a chemical such as methyl bromide or a six-step procedure was required. [18] The price of Kona coffee was expected to rise because the insect has the potential to reduce crop yields up to 90%. [19] In early 2011 the Hawaii State Dept. of Agriculture allowed the import and application of a concentrated naturally occurring fungus ( Beauveria bassiana ) to successfully combat the infestation. [20]

As of 2021, coffee leaf rust also has been found and threatens production. [21]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Coffea</i> Genus of flowering plants

Coffea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. Coffea species are shrubs or small trees native to tropical and southern Africa and tropical Asia. The seeds of some species, called coffee beans, are used to flavor various beverages and products. The fruits, like the seeds, contain a large amount of caffeine, and have a distinct sweet taste.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hualālai</span> Active volcano in the Hawaiian Islands

Hualālai is an active volcano on the island of Hawaiʻi in the Hawaiian Islands. It is the westernmost, third-youngest and the third-most active of the five volcanoes that form the island of Hawaiʻi, following Kīlauea and the much larger Mauna Loa. Its peak stands 8,271 feet (2,521 m) above sea level. Hualālai is estimated to have risen above sea level about 300,000 years ago. Despite maintaining a very low level of activity since its last eruption in 1801, and being unusually inactive for the last 2,000 years, Hualālai is still considered active, and is expected to erupt again sometime in the next 100 years. The relative unpreparedness of the residents in the area caused by the lull in activity would worsen an eruption's consequences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kopi luwak</span> Indonesian coffee drink

Kopi luwak, also known as civet coffee, is a coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet. The cherries are fermented as they pass through a civet's intestines, and after being defecated with other fecal matter, they are collected. Asian palm civets are increasingly caught in the wild and traded for this purpose.

<i>Coffea arabica</i> Species of coffee plant

Coffea arabica, also known as the Arabica coffee, is a species of flowering plant in the coffee and madder family Rubiaceae. It is believed to be the first species of coffee to have been cultivated and is currently the dominant cultivar, representing about 60% of global production. Coffee produced from the less acidic, more bitter, and more highly caffeinated robusta bean makes up most of the remaining coffee production. The natural populations of Coffea arabica are restricted to the forests of South Ethiopia and Yemen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee bean</span> Seed of the coffee plant

A coffee bean is a seed from the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pip inside the red or purple fruit. This fruit is often referred to as a coffee cherry, and like the cherry, it is a fruit with a pip. Even though the coffee beans are not technically beans, they are referred to as such because of their resemblance to true beans. The fruits most commonly contain two stones with their flat sides together. A small percentage of cherries contain a single seed, instead of the usual two, called a "peaberry". The peaberry occurs only between 10% and 15% of the time, and it is a fairly common belief that they have more flavour than normal coffee beans. Like Brazil nuts and white rice, coffee beans consist mostly of endosperm.

<i>Coffea canephora</i> Species of coffee plant

Coffea canephora is a species of coffee plant that has its origins in central and western sub-Saharan Africa. It is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. Though widely known as Coffea robusta, the plant is scientifically identified as Coffea canephora, which has two main varieties, robusta and nganda.

Koa Coffee Plantation is a former grower and processor of Kona coffee on Hawaiʻi island, United States, acquired by Paradise Beverages DBA Hawaii Coffee Company in 2009. Koa Coffee Plantation is roasted in Honolulu by Hawaii Coffee Company. Koa Coffee Plantation's place of business is 1560 Hart Street, Honolulu, HI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden</span> Botanical garden in Hawaii, United States

The Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden is a Hawaiian botanical garden near Captain Cook, Hawaii in the Kona District on the Big Island of Hawaii. Undergoing a change in management, the gardens were closed to the public from 2016-2019. It is now operated by Friends of the Garden and is open to the public Thursday thru Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm, with free admission.

<i>Mycosphaerella coffeicola</i> Species of fungus

Mycosphaerella coffeicola is a sexually reproducing fungal plant pathogen. It is most commonly referred to as the asexual organism Cercospora coffeicola.

Moloka‘i coffee refers to a legally protected, geographical indication of coffee grown on the island of Molokai in Maui County, Hawai‘i, and processed to specific, legally defined standards. Similar to Kona coffee, Molokai coffee is a market name for a product of specific origin and of a defined quality. Requirements for Moloka‘i coffee not only dictate the origin and quality, but also label design and placement on product package.

<i>Coffea liberica</i> Species of coffee plant

Coffea liberica, commonly known as the Liberian coffee, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae from which coffee is produced. It is native to western and central Africa, and has become naturalised in areas including Colombia, Venezuela, the Philippines, Borneo and Java.

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Indonesia was the fourth-largest producer of coffee in the world in 2014. Coffee cultivation in Indonesia began in the late 1600s and early 1700s, in the early Dutch colonial period, and has played an important part in the growth of the country. Indonesia is geographically and climatologically well-suited for coffee plantations, near the equator and with numerous interior mountainous regions on its main islands, creating well-suited microclimates for the growth and production of coffee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kona Coffee Living History Farm</span> Historic farm in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States

Kona Coffee Living History Farm is located on the Daisaku Uchida Coffee Farm, in the Kona District, on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. The 5.5-acre (22,000 m2) historic Kona coffee farm was established in 1900.

Hawaii is one of the few U.S. states where coffee production is a significant economic industry – coffee is the second largest crop produced there. The 2019–2020 coffee harvest in Hawaii was valued at $102.9 million. As of the 2019-2020 harvest, coffee production in Hawaii accounted for 6,900 acres of land

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kainaliu, Hawaii</span> Place in Hawaii, United States

Kainaliu is a small community in Hawaiʻi County, Hawaiʻi, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Nicholas Greenwell</span> American politician

Henry Nicholas Greenwell was an English merchant credited with establishing Kona coffee as an internationally known brand. His family became major land-holders in the Kona District of the island of Hawaiʻi. The Greenwell Store is now a museum and historical center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coffee production in Ethiopia</span> Aspect of agriculture

Coffee production in Ethiopia is a longstanding tradition which dates back dozens of centuries. Ethiopia is where Coffea arabica, the coffee plant, originates. The plant is now grown in various parts of the world; Ethiopia itself accounts for around 17% of the global coffee market. Coffee is important to the economy of Ethiopia; around 30-35% of foreign income comes from coffee, with an estimated 15 million of the population relying on some aspect of coffee production for their livelihood. In 2013, coffee exports brought in $300 million, equivalent to 24% of that year's total exports.

The Guadeloupe Bonifieur is a variety of coffee grown in Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe Bonifieur is the ancestor of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee and is very rare. The fresh air, high altitude, and abundance of rain create ideal conditions for growing this Arabica variety. The variety is called Guadeloupe Bonifieur because of its high quality and great taste, and because, in the past, it was used to enhance lower quality blends. Connoisseurs consider it one of the best coffees in the world, even though it is only available from a few distributors.

Benguet coffee, also known as Benguet arabica, is a single-origin coffee varietal grown in the Cordillera highlands of the northern Philippines since the 19th century. It belongs to the species Coffea arabica, of the Typica variety. It is one of the main crops of farmers in the province of Benguet, which has a climate highly suitable for arabica cultivation. Benguet coffee is listed in the Ark of Taste international catalogue of endangered heritage foods by the Slow Food movement.

References

  1. ↑ Mary Kawena Pukui; Samuel Hoyt Elbert (2003). "lookup of coffee". in Hawaiian Dictionary. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press . Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  2. 1 2 Gerald Kinro (2003). A cup of aloha: the Kona coffee epic. University of Hawaii Press. p. 123. ISBN   978-0-8248-2678-9.
  3. ↑ John C. Wright (January 19, 1974). "Greenwell Store nomination form". National Register of Historic Places. U.S. National Park Service. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  4. ↑ The Kona Coffee Belt
  5. 1 2 "Coffee-ota.org". www.coffee-ota.org.
  6. ↑ "Government document" (PDF). hdoa.hawaii.gov. February 26, 2014. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  7. ↑ "Coffee Decline Caused by the Kona Coffee Root-Knot Nematode" (PDF). College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii. March 1999. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  8. ↑ "Fukunaga, a Coffee Rootstock Resistant to the Kona Coffee Root-Knot Nematode" (PDF). College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii. October 2001. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  9. ↑ Read, Richard (2019-09-15). "The Kona coffee you buy from Costco and Walmart? It might be fake". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  10. ↑ "United States Patent and Trademark Office". United States Patent and Trademark Office.
  11. ↑ Read, Richard. "Hawaii coffee farmers hope lawsuit settlements guarantee the Kona in your cup is real". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  12. ↑ Debra Barayuga (September 29, 1999). "Kona coffee farmers win fake-bean suit: Cheap coffee had been repackaged as expensive Kona beans for years". Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
  13. ↑ "Berkeley Resident Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and TaxEvasion". Business wire press release. July 14, 2000.
  14. ↑ Karin Stanton (April 30, 2007). "Neighbors' dispute could change Hawai'i ag tourism". Honolulu Advertiser.
  15. ↑ "Former Mayor Stephen K. Yamashiro (1941-2011)". Hawaii 24/7 . 2011-05-25. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
  16. ↑ "Tiny Pest Threatens Hawaii's Coffee Crop | KHON2 Hawaii's News Leader". Archived from the original on June 16, 2011.
  17. ↑ Michael Tsai (December 13, 2010). "Fungus holds clue to coffee blight". Honolulu Star-Advertiser . Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  18. ↑ Erin Miller (November 25, 2010). "Kona coffee quarantined: Processors approve, farmers upset". West Hawaii Today . Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  19. ↑ Ben Markus (December 7, 2010). "Destructive Bug Infests Hawaii's Kona Coffee Fields". National Public Radio . Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  20. ↑ Department of Agriculture | State of Hawaii | Department of Agriculture
  21. ↑ Grossman, Dakota (13 April 2021). "Fungicide not 'silver bullet,' could help against coffee leaf rust". Maui News. Retrieved 2 May 2021.

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