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Robusta and Arabica
Both Robusta and Arabica coffee are the main representatives of the evergreen plant family Rubiaceae. This biological species has over 90 members, but most of them grow in the wild and are not cultivated by humans.
The History of Coffee
Let's delve into history to understand when and how humans learned to cultivate coffee trees and benefit from them.
The first mentions of the coffee tree in chronicles date back to the 14th century. However, according to legend, humans first encountered Arabica in 850 AD. The story goes that this happened in Ethiopia, with a shepherd named Kaldi being the discoverer. It is said that he noticed his goats acting unusually frisky after eating bright red berries from an unknown shrub. Curious, the shepherd tried the berries himself and later told Ethiopian monks about this miraculous tree. The monks figured out how to extract the beans from the berries, roast them, and make a brew from the ground beans (ground coffee). This brew allowed them to stay alert during long night prayers. But that's the legend — the truth is something we may never fully uncover.
The Origin of Arabica
The question of where Arabica coffee originated is fairly straightforward. Most scientists confirm that its birthplace is indeed Ethiopia, or more precisely, the junction of several African countries at the "Ethiopian Highlands." Arabica's emergence as an industrial product occurred in the 14th century. At that time, Yemen was the leading coffee producer, closely followed by Egypt. As Arabica coffee began, Middle Eastern countries had a sort of monopoly on the product. However, Dutch merchants, by deception, managed to smuggle a few coffee tree seedlings to their colonies on the islands of Java and Sumatra, thus bringing the coffee tree beyond the bounds of the East into Europe.
The Emergence of Robusta
The emergence of Robusta remains a question largely unexplored. Robusta has been much less popular than Arabica. It is known to have African roots, with Tanzania, Liberia, and Angola vying for the title of Robusta's cradle.
It is presumed that Robusta followed a similar path as Arabica, with minor differences. Since Robusta is less demanding and can grow and yield in wild conditions, countries like Vietnam and India, which lack unique climatic conditions, are now world leaders in Robusta production.
Taste the Varieties of Coffee
You can try and compare the two most popular varieties of coffee at our online store buno.com.ua. Order unique coffee varieties from around the world online in bulk or retail at Buno — a true coffee journey.
