July 8, 2000
Rain Forest - The Coffee Plant
Sherwood's Forest

Welcome to the July meeting!

As we grow into the Millenium, I feel we need to be aware of the next Millenium. With the love for gardening, growing and learning about plants in general, I thought July would be a great month to begin to learn about plants that are not hardy. (Plants that will die in Missouri once temperature goes below 32°) These plants are generally known as Tropicals - or House Plants. These plants normally grow in a warmer climate such as Florida or even further south. These areas are known as Tropical Rain Forest. We are still continuously learning about them. We are also continually finding new plants, development of uses through research, from places such as the Missouri Botanical Gardens, and International Center for Tropical Ecology, with the University of Missouri. Some Rain Forest facts to consider:

  • Experts estimate we are losing earth's greatest biological treasures just as we are beginning to appreciate their true value. Rain Forests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface. Now they cover a mere 6% and experts estimate that the last remaining Rain Forests could be consumed in less than 40 years.
  • Experts estimate that we are losing 137 plant, animal and insect species every single day due to rainforest deforestation. That equates to 50,000 species a year. As the rainforest species disappear, so do many possible cures for life-threatening diseases. Currently, 121 prescription drugs sold worldwide come from plant-derived sources. While 25% of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest ingredients, less than 1% of these tropical trees and plants have been tested by scientists.
  • There were an estimated ten million Indians living in the Amazonian Rainforest five centuries ago. Today there are less than 200,000.
  • The Amazon Rainforest has been described as the "Lungs of our Planet" because it provides the essential environmental world service of continuously recycling carbon dioxide into oxygen. More than 20 percent of the world oxygen is produced in the Amazon Rainforest.
  • Vincristine, extracted from the rainforest plant, Periwinkle, is one of the world's most powerful anticancer drugs. It has dramatically increased the survival rate for acute childhood leukemia since its discovery.
  • In 1983, there were no U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturers involved in research programs to discover new drugs or cures from plants. Today, over 100 pharmaceutical companies and several branches of the U.S. government, including giants like Merck and The National Cancer Institute, are engaged in plant research projects for possible drugs and cures for viruses, infections, cancer and even AIDS.
  • Experts agree that by leaving the rainforests intact and harvesting its many nuts, fruits, oil-producing plants, and medicinal plants, the rainforest has more economic value than if they were cut down to make grazing land for cattle or for timber.
  • The latest statistics show that rainforest land converted to cattle operations yields the landowner $60 per acre and if timber is harvested, the land is worth $400 per acre. However, if these renewable and sustainable resources are harvested, the land will yield the landowner $2,400 per acre.

As you can see the positive good from the flower Periwinkle is an example of what can be obtained from the rainforest. Consider back into the Tropics & Tropical Plants in general and how our ancestors found and learned/experimented with plants, learning about them by trial and error and what we still have to look forward to. Consider the distant past a thousand years ago or so.

Most Botanists believe that coffee originated in Ethiopia. Discovered by Kaldi, the Abyssinian (Ethiopian) goatherder one day noticed his goats dancing and prancing after they ate a strange red berry. Not to be left out of the fun, Kaldi ate the berry and soon was dancing with his herd. A wandering Abbot saw the goats and Kaldi and thought the fruit might help his fellow monks stay awake during prayers. The Abbott returned to his group with berries in hand. The first coffee beverage was like a wine. The Ethiopians used the juice from fermented coffee berries, which was mixed with cold water to make an enticing beverage. Arab traders are credited with taking coffee out of Ethiopia across the Gulf of Aden to the port of Mocha in Yemen. The Islamic Yemenites drank coffee in place of wine, as wine was forbidden by law. With the growing popularity of coffee the Arabs developed a system of cultivation whereby plants were grown in nurseries. Coffee's popularity also brought new methods for producing beverages. In the 13th century roasted coffee beans were pulverized and mixed with spices and boiled. We call the resulting beverage Turkish coffee. Today coffee is grown in over 50 countries in the world. As a leading cash crop, coffee supports the livelihoods of over 20 million people. It is the 2nd leading commodity traded in the world.

The coffee plant is a dense broad-leaved glossy green deciduous shrub-like tree, usually about 12 to 15 feet in height. Clustered at the leaf axis are fragrant white flowers that produce rounded deep red berries, no larger than the first joint of a man's little finger. Each crimson berry contains two beans.

During the 15th century the first coffee house was believed to open in Mecca. Since the beginning the coffee house has been a meeting place where people socialize and drink delicious beverages. Many species of coffee exist in the world. However, coffea arabica and robusta are the two primary coffees grown for commercial use. Although the two differ slightly by sight, the taste and cup differences are substantial. Arabica represents 75% of the world's commercial production, only about 10% of the production is graded Specialty Coffee.

  • Coffee is grown between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. This tropical region offers bright sunshine, rich soil and an abundant rainfall.
  • Arabic beans generally grown at elevations from 2,000 to 6,000 feet about sea level.
  • Robusta beans grow from sea level to near 3,000 feet above sea level.
  • Most coffee trees begin to produce commercially viable crops about 3-5 years after planting
  • Height of a mature pruned coffee tree is about 6-8 feet.
  • Arabica trees yield about 1 to 1 ½ pounds of coffee per tree per year.
  • Robustas yield 2-3 pounds of coffee per year.
  • One pound of coffee is equivalent to approximately 2,500 cherries.
  • Healthy trees can produce quality coffee for about 25-30 years.

The coffee bean is actually the seed of the tree's fruit. The development of the fruit begins when delicate, jasmine scented flowers appear on the tree. These flowers last about 3 days. Within 6 to 9 months the tree's fruit (cherry) develop to maturity. As the cherries mature, they change in color from green, to yellow, to a deep ripe red. Ripe cherries are comprised of several layers:

  • Cherry Skin - outer red fruit
  • Mucilage - sweet pulpy substance
  • Parchment - paper-like protective membrane
  • Silver Skin - thin silvery colored membrane
  • Two Beans - facing each other with 2 plat sides.

Occasionally the fruit contains only one round bean, the peaberry. About 10% of a tree's production will be peaberries. A special thanks to Ronnoco Coffee Company for the learning experience and the continuing knowledge of coffee. Douglas R. Wolter is a horticulturist with St. Louis County Department of Parks & Recreation.

THE MYTH AND HISTORY OF SPECIALTY COFFEE - INFORMATION GUIDE
  1. Coffee's history is steeped in myth. Recount one of these myths.

  2. It is believed that coffee originated in what country?

  3. Coffee was first consumed as .

  4. Coffee was first cultivated in .

  5. Due to its mystical connections and assumed magical properties, coffee was used as and in ceremonies.

  6. became synonymous with coffee because so much coffee traveled through its port.

  7. The Ibrik is . It is used to make coffee.

  8. Where did the first coffee houses originate?

  9. It is believed that coffee began its migration to the world at large by to who smuggled the first coffee to their own countries.

  10. Some believe that coffee may have been assisted in its first leap to Europe by traders.

  11. Although many countries were competing to introduce coffee to their colonies, was the first country to succeed.

  12. Seedlings from one famous garden played a large role in helping to spread coffee to its growing regions around the world. This garden was in and belonged to .
  13. Today, coffee is one of the largest commodities in the world and is second in dollar value only to .

  14. Coffee is grown in over countries.


THE MYTH AND HISTORY OF SPECIALTY COFFEE ANSWER KEY
  1. Coffee's history is steeped in myth. Recount one of these myths.

  2. The legend of Kaldi the goatherder and his dancing goats: Kaldi saw his goats prancing after eating a strange red berry. He ate the berries as well and was observed dancing among the beats by an Abbott.

    The Abbott took the berries back to his brethren to help them stay awake during their prayers.

    The legend of Omar the Dervish: Omar was exiled by his enemies to die in the Yemenite desert. Awakened one night by a ghost, Omar was led to a coffee tree. After eating the berries, Omar is revived. He shares the berries with some sick people who miraculously recover. Omar returns to the city with the wondrous berries whose powers are now seen as a gift from God.

  3. It is believed that coffee originated in what country? Ethiopia

  4. Coffee was first consumed as food.

  5. Coffee was first cultivated in Arabia.

  6. Due to its mystical connections and assumed magical properties, coffee was used as medicine and in religious ceremonies.

  7. Mocha became synonymous with coffee because so much coffee traveled through its port.

  8. The Ibrik is an hourglass shaped boiling pot. It is used to make Turkish coffee.

  9. Where did the first coffee houses originate? In Mecca

  10. It is believed that coffee began its migration to the world at large by pilgrims to Mecca who smuggled the first coffee to their own countries.

  11. Some believe that coffee may have been assisted in its first leap to Europe by Venetian traders.

  12. Although many countries were competing to introduce coffee to their colonies, Holland was the first country to succeed.

  13. Seedlings from one famous garden played a large role in helping to spread coffee to its growing regions around the world. This garden was in France (Paris and belonged to King Louis XIV.

  14. Today, coffee is one of the largest commodities in the world and is second in dollar value only to oil.

  15. Coffee is grown in over 50 countries.