...AS WAS his wont (with that bulb that lights up over one's head) he, for some unknown reason, had an idea -- to roast a few of same said little reddish berries. Having eaten these roasted delights he discovered (with another light bulb over his head) that he suddenly felt wide-awake -- you know, frisky, happy, strong, filled with energy.
Hmmm.
After this little eye-opening discovery, people in his village whiled away their hours drying and roasting same said berries, passing them around like peanuts at a wedding. And then, lo and behold another little 'Einstein' shepherd happened to add 'crushing' to this hub of activity and boiling water to the melee and, Eureka--voila--. the world was never the same, for another little bit of human brilliance was born.
And so it came to pass that these herders watched their goats by night ever after drinking their hot brew in, yep. frisky, happy, strong and filled with energy state.
Hmmm.
But the story did not end there. As fate would have it, a Pope intervened. Pope Clementine VIII, on receiving the news from the East, requested that these now dried, roasted, crushed and bagged beans be brought before him. Loving the aroma more than the Vatican, he quite rightly baptised the bean 'coffee' and decreed that from that day on a cup of coffee would be Christian.
Hmmm.
Well, if you think di res' of the populace would be content with that, think again. If coffee was good enough for The Pope it was good enough for Venice, London and Paris and so by the 17th century coffee houses started appearing all over Europe -- stuffy, feisty, smoky overcrowded rooms of brew drinking fanatics keeping awake (and, yep, frisky, happy, strong and filled with energy) long enough to discuss political, social, literary and general business swooning in pleasure under the delicious aroma of that Abyssinian coffee that so many moons ago, a goat had discovered.
Hmmm.
DISCOVERED IN ETHIOPIA, BREWED IN EUROPE,
PERFECTED IN JAMAICA
Now, as you can well imagine, if Europe was enthused then who's America. By 1668 coffee became 'de rigueur' at breakfast for any self-respecting American -- New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia -- the sky was the limit for this new fad. Coffee. Caf. Cafecito. Kaffee. Koffie. Joe. Java. Wherever it was served or whatever it was called, that brew became as much in demand worldwide as precious diamonds and gold.
And, hello, if this new 'raison d'etre' was good enough for Europe and America, then it had to be good enough for us down here in di Caribbean -- even better if perfected right here inna Jamaica. Oh yes!
And so, it further came to pass that that Abyssinian evergreen bush landed in its 'semi-sorry' state on this here wondrous land and was taken into the heights of the splendid Blue Mountains where it flourished becoming (yep!) the best coffee in the world -- even Jamaican goats (kids of a migrant Abyssian herd) are prepared to this day to attest to that. Blue Mountain Coffee. Robust and nutty. Flavourful, dark as the earth; frisky, happy, strong and, of course, energetic.
Hmmm.
Take heed. Like all good things, Blue Mountain coffee has been through the mill. From rich and prosperous coffee estates to nearly-lost-in-the-scheme-of-economic-whatevers; from the dusting off of the-economic-whatevers to the ravages of rain and floods. But, this pride of Jamaican soil has fought on, gaining in strength, turning a blind eye to adversity by flourishing on the land and spreading itself throughout the world where indeed, for many a moon, it has held a most luxurious position - revered by the connoisseurs, loved by the rich and famous, favoured by many a Queen. Even the Pope has indulged -- or so they say.
Alas, misfortune is never far. Our blessed crop has suffered another blow these last few weeks as the Blue Mountains were forced to sacrifice their precious ward to stand against the mighty advances of an army larger than life -- a cluster of heavy cloud stormed with wild and tumultuous winds, roars of thunder and strikes of lightening known as Ivan The Terrible. We must be a blessed lot for God to create such a mighty band of rock to protect us. However, today we must mourn the loss of acres and acres of our precious commodity and in doing so pay homage to those who have toiled for aeons of time to keep our Blue Mountains coffee tradition alive -- for they are now with heavy heart. Hush. The Blue Mountains themselves are whispering to all of Jamaica" "We shall have spirit and we shall overcome".
Hear these mutterings and say: "Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee shall never die and with God's grace the arms of these magnificent peaks will now mother our cherished evergreens until frisky, happy and strong; energetic and feisty - ready for the world again".
Hmmm.
For those who wish to inebriate on coffee at home - try the recipes below.
Vampire's Coffee
(Taken hake Dat Cocktail - Rosemary Parkinson)
1 shot Appleton Rum
3/4 shot Brandy
3/4 shot Tia Maria
3/4 cup Twyneman Blue
Mountain Coffee - boiling
1 shot Sweet Cream - warmed
Sugar to taste
Whipped Cream
1 coffee bean
Heat resistant glass
METHOD
Warm rum, brandy and Tia Maria. Add Coffee. Add Sweet Cream. Add sugar to taste. Pour the ingredients into the heat resistant glass. Add sugar to taste. Mix. Top with whipped cream, garnish with coffee bean. Makes one.
Ivan's Coffee Wrath
1 shot Vodka
1 shot Tequila
2 shots Baileys Irish Cream
1 teas. Jablum Instant coffee
2 scoops Vanilla Ice Cream
Grated nutmeg
METHOD
Blend Vodka, Tequila and Baileys with 4 cubes of ice until smooth.
Add instant coffee. Add vanilla ice cream. Blend. Pour into tallish cocktail glass. Garnish with nutmeg. Makes one.
Coffee Martini
(pictured above)
1 oz. Coffee Syrup
2 oz. Vermouth Dry
2 oz. Vodka or Gin
METHOD
1. Make a strong cup of coffee. Add 3 cups sugar and boil on a low heat until a syrup forms. Cool.
2. Place ingredients as directed above in a shaker.
3. Fill with ice. Shake until shaker sticks to hand.
4. Serve in a martini glass, garnish with coffee bean.
Courtesy of Norma's at the Marina
Rosemary Parkinson has weathered the storm of one difficult week like Blue Mountain coffee. She is frisky, happy, strong, energetic and feisty. Ready for the world again.
