Kona coffee is a marketing name for coffee that comes from the Kona District of Hawaii. Pure Kona coffee is highly sought after all round the world. It has a richer flavor than others due to the location and environment they are cultivated.
The land of Hawaii is rich with volcanic soil and is perfect for coffee growing. The afternoon clouds also provide a good cover for it to grow. These factors give Kona coffee its character, loved by many around the world.
A Peek At History
The first coffee plant was introduced to Kealakekua-Kona by Reverend Samuel Ruggles in 1828. It was not considered a viable agricultural commodity at that time until very much later. During the California gold rush era, demand for coffee from this region starts to pick up and farmers start planting their crops along the slopes of Mauna Loa and Mount Hualalai. Many of the large estates were leased to their Japanese workers during the world coffee market crash in 1899. There are now about 600 plantations all around the district and each of them having a size of not more than 5 acres.
Coffee Farming & Process
The coffee plants in Kona will start to bloom from February to March. Green berries will soon start to appear after the flowers have been pollinated. Majority of the berries will be harvested from August to December or early January. It is estimated that each tree can produce around 20 to 30 pounds of berries.
During peak harvesting period, most mills work round the clock. All the berries will be processed within 24 hour time frame to maintain quality. The berries will be tested for freshness and color before being sent to the pulper. The pulper will strip the flesh leaving the beans. The flesh is transported back to the farms to be used as fertilizer. The stripped beans will next undergo a fermentation process of around 8 to 18 hours in giant tanks. After completing the fermentation process, the beans are cleaned and dried on drying racks covered by hoshidanas. Depending on the weather, it might take about 10 to 14 days before the Kona coffee beans are ready for the next process.
It is essential to constantly rake the beans during the drying phase. This is to prevent mildew from forming and maintain consistent quality throughout the batch. The beans are then graded according to size, shape and weight.
Controversial Kona
There is a high demand for Kona coffee due to its unique taste and quality. Many large corporations and individuals have tarnished the name by selling coffee that is not truly Kona. These blends are normally made up of only 10% Kona coffee and the remaining 90% from cheaper imports from Colombia or Brazil. It hurts the industry in Kona and gives a false impression to the consumers about the quality of pure Kona coffee. The farmers have been fighting a loosing battle to trademark the name. Even though there are labeling laws in Hawaii, there is no corresponding Federal law to support it.
Conclusion
There is no denying in the quality of Kona coffee. Great care is taken to ensure quality from the many who toil in the farms and mills to deliver you that perfect cup of beverage possible. They are all committed to deliver you the true taste of Kona - Gold of Hawaii.
Related Articles
Coffee - The Addictive Stimulant
By: Elsie Shan | 05/12/2007 | Food & Beverage
Coffee is one of the important commodities in the world. It is consumed by many people around the world and plays a major part in some economies of the world. It is traded through some major commodities board around the world, e.g. New York Board of Trade (NYBOT). Currently, Brazil...
The Coffee Bean Story
By: Elsie Shan | 11/12/2007 | Food & Beverage
This is the story of how the humble coffee becomes a world celebrity. It's not about the Labrador named Coffee Beans attached to the Sheriff's Department sniffing drugs and bombs. It's about "the" coffee beans we are familiar with. It's about the fragrant aroma that stimulates our senses in the...
Decaffeination and You
By: Kate Simpson | 29/06/2006 | Health
An explanation about the decaffeination of coffee beans and what it means to you.
4 Different Coffee Brewing Methods
By: Aaron Matthews-Morgan | 12/11/2007 | Coffee
Coffee Brewing Methods range from popular Espresso or French Press methods to lesser used methods like Turkish. Here we explore the four most popular Coffee Brewing Methods: Espresso, French Press, Drip Filtration and Mokta or Stovetop method.
Costa Rica Heritage: Tales of Beans
By: George Moore | 16/02/2008 | Home & Family
Costa Rica produces the finest gourmet coffee in the world.Its story, history and heritage- of both the church and cgourmet coffee
What to Look for When Buying a Coffee Maker
By: Grant Eckert | 25/11/2007 | Coffee
For many people, the day doesn't officially start until that first pot is brewing. Coffee has become a mainstay of their morning routine. Coffee provides the caffeine that some people need to wake up in the morning or to get that extra boost as the day goes on, and research has shown that the antioxidants in coffee may have a variety of health benefits as well.
How to Maintain a Coffee Maker
By: Craig Elliott | 09/01/2008 | Coffee
A coffee maker is a wonderful appliance and a great way to save time and money, but it does require a bit of maintenance. Too many people overlook the maintenance of their coffee maker for too long.
Coffee Facts and Gourmet Coffee Figures
By: George Moore | 02/03/2008 | Home & Family
Strange and true gourmet coffee facts
Latest Food and Beverage Articles
New York Raw Food Restaurants
By: virgilio vallecera | 18/11/2008
New York raw food restaurants are attracting attention, as more people desire healthier diets and lifestyles. New York City consistently serves some of the best raw food cuisine in the world, and proudly hosts 10 raw food restaurantsincluding 3 vegetarian restaurants that are partially raw. The Big Apple is known for its diversity of cuisine and raw food restaurants provide a healthy and delicious alternative.
Widen Your Customer Reach With Online Food Ordering System
By: Shefali Dhamija | 18/11/2008
For proper proliferation of any business, it is quite essential to have a wider customer database. Businesses often follow various strategies to increase their customer reach. Online Food Ordering System is one such strategy which is designed for the restaurateurs who are looking forward to broaden their customer database.
Life as a Chef!
By: Deb Brown | 17/11/2008
To help people to decide if they want to be chef.
What to Expect From a Cheap New York Hotel
By: Brooke Coin | 17/11/2008
Cheap does not necessarily mean a bad thing especially when we are talking about a New York hotel. You will just have to be extra careful because some establishments abuse the word cheap and they would offer horrendous services. A stay in a New York hotel need not be expensive and while you may want to spend a little on it, you can still get at least the basic accommodations and necessities anybody would expect.
Chic Boutique Hotel Rooms in New York
By: Brooke Coin | 17/11/2008
These visitors may have a lot less budget for vacation but they are most deserving for a decent stay in the Big Apple. They would need chic and comfortable New York hotel rooms regardless of the size and shape. However, with the country’s dollar rates going down and the sales demand of hotels in New York City going up, these desires would be very difficult to attain. Of course, that’s true if we can’t help…
How to Choose the Right New York Hotel
By: Brooke Coin | 17/11/2008
New York City is like the melting pot of the world. It is probably the only place on Earth where you can find every nationality. It is also a melting pot of cultures brought about by the migration of the early part of the 20th century. Some say that this migration is not yet finished because year in and year out there are still many people coming to New York. Well, you may not be migrating to New York City but if you are planning to visit it one day, you should probably think about a few importa
How to Find a Cheap New York Hotel
By: Brooke Coin | 17/11/2008
Your first stop for information in finding a New York hotel would be your travel agency. With all probability, they have a list of partner hotels where they can recommend you and perhaps even easily book a good and cozy room for you. Ask for it outright when you first deal with them about your travel plans. I'm sure they would just be very happy to help you out.
Visit the Sights After You Have Found Your Perfect New York Hotel
By: Brooke Coin | 17/11/2008
New York City is the largest city in the United States and by far, the home of world famous tourist attractions. Just think about the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and Central Park just to name a few. These are just a few of the reasons why millions of tourists visit the city annually. Therefore it is considered a sin if you just stay in your New York hotel room and don't go out to see the wonderful things the Big Apple can offer you.
More from Elsie Shan
Symptoms Of Diabetes And Your Risks
By: Elsie Shan | 24/12/2007 | Medicine
Diabetes is a chronic disease affecting millions of people around the world. It is an incurable disease and once diagnosed must take medication for life. Diabetes is caused by the failure of the pancreas to produce insulin to help in glucose metabolism. This defect causes glucose to remain in the...
10 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Retirement
By: Elsie Shan | 14/12/2007 | Home & Family
As the days of your retirement approaches, the feeling of anxiety and anticipation will continue to build up. And when the day comes to pass, and when the dust starts to settle, you will be left alone in this new phase of your life. For many, there is no need...
How To Use A Cooking Recipe
By: Elsie Shan | 13/12/2007 | Cooking Tips
A cooking recipe is a series of instructions on how to prepare a meal. It will list down the ingredients required as well as preparation instruction and other useful information to make your cooking a success. By following the instructions the cooking recipe, you will be able to come up...
The Coffee Bean Story
By: Elsie Shan | 11/12/2007 | Food & Beverage
This is the story of how the humble coffee becomes a world celebrity. It's not about the Labrador named Coffee Beans attached to the Sheriff's Department sniffing drugs and bombs. It's about "the" coffee beans we are familiar with. It's about the fragrant aroma that stimulates our senses in the...
Cooking With Children
By: Elsie Shan | 11/12/2007 | Home & Family
Cooking to an adult is a chore, but it is a fun learning experience to the children. Children loves cooking because it gives them the opportunity to "play" around. Kneading and rolling out the dough is so exciting to the children, just like their Play-Doh. It not only keeps your...
Diabetes - Where Is My Insulin?
By: Elsie Shan | 11/12/2007 | Medicine
Millions of people around the world are inflicted by diabetes mellitus, or more commonly called diabetes. You may be suffering from this chronic disease without even knowing you have it. Even though it an incurable disease, you can lead a long, normal healthy life if the diabetes is properly controlled...
Retirement - The Beginning Of A New Life
By: Elsie Shan | 07/12/2007 | Finance
Before the 19th or early 20th century, a worker will work until he dies or until a time where he can no longer perform the job he is entrusted with. If it's the latter case, then he will have to rely on his life savings or from his family to...
Coffee - The Addictive Stimulant
By: Elsie Shan | 05/12/2007 | Food & Beverage
Coffee is one of the important commodities in the world. It is consumed by many people around the world and plays a major part in some economies of the world. It is traded through some major commodities board around the world, e.g. New York Board of Trade (NYBOT). Currently, Brazil...
Food & Beverage 
