Think of coffee and
countries like Brazil, Columbia, and Indonesia come to mind. If you’re a coffee connoisseur you may even
know that parts of Africa such as Ethiopia and Kenya also produce some decent
beans. But, coffee in Spain’s Canary
Islands? Located a mere 150 miles off the coast of
Morocco, the Canaries boast the world’s most northerly coffee plantation---and the
only one in Europe.
I arrived a few
days ago to the Gran Canaria island with a group of Wine-Knows. Today we visited a
coffee plantation. Coffee has been
cultivated on this island since the 18th century. Originally used as ornamental plants due to
their pretty red berries, the plant’s beans are now roasted and sold commercially.
The coffee
plantation is located in a lush green valley in the northwest corner of the
island. The valley’s hot and humid year-around
micro-climate is instrumental in producing quality beans. Only Arabica beans, indigenous to Ethiopia,
are grown. The coffee plants grow among
tropical fruits such as guava, mangoes, and avocados---all of which provide the much
needed shade to the somewhat delicate coffee. This area is only 300 feet above sea level,
hence, Canary’s coffee beans don’t have the high acid levels that its South
American counterparts have (they are normally grown at heights of 3,500 feet).
The Canary Islands
were birthed from ancient underwater volcanoes, thus their soil is volcanic. (It’s
no surprise that some of the most famous coffee-growing spots are in areas of
current or historic volcanic activity, e.g. Indonesia and Central
America). Coffee plants require a large
amount of nutrients and volcanic soils offer an abundant supply of minerals
which help the trees to grow. The mineral-rich
volcanic soil also contributes to the coffee’s unique flavor profile.
An island with
year-around sunshine, a cornucopia of tropical fruits, plentiful fresh-fish, wine, and
coffee? I think I’ve found paradise.
Viva Canarias.
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