Brazilian Coffee - How Romancing the Beans Changed the Course of History!

In 1727, a military man, Captain Francisco de Mello Palheta, introduced prized coffee seeds from French Guyana for the very first time in Brazil. At the time, French Guyana had a monopoly on coffee beans and refused to make them available to Brazilians. Through charm and romance, Captain de Mello Palheta wooed a sample of coffee beans from the governor's wife who rewarded him for his personal flair with a bouquet of flowers where she hid coffee beans as a gift for "memories' sake."
The captain took the coffee seeds back to Brazil where they were planted in the state of Pará. From there, coffee trees began to appear throughout Brazil in places such as Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, São Paulo and Minas Gerais. This may be one of those unique stories where romance and a likely furtive kiss changed the course of history for a nation that became the supplier of 70% of all coffee consumed in the world.
At the time, sugar was the main crop in Brazil. However, it was quickly surpassed by coffee. Coffee farmers became the social and political elite of Brazil, planting coffee trees at a very fast rate everywhere they could.
• The "Fazendas de Café" (coffee plantations) were run as small states by coffee growing families committed to establishing an image of nobility and high class status.
• As a result, family coats of arms became common and remain as testimony to a time passed. In general, most coffee plantations in Brazil are still small.
• About 67% of all farms have less than 10 acres.
• About 25% of farms have less than 50 acres.
• The remaining 8% exceed 50 acres.
• Brazil is the largest country in South America. Brazil shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.
• What is amazing about this huge land mass is that only 7% represents arable land; 1% permanent crops and the balance (92%) other use such as urban, mangroves, jungle, forests, etc.
Brazil monopolized the international coffee market during the last part of the 19Th century and the beginning of the 20Th century.
• This monopolization promoted large immigration to Brazil for workers from Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland, the Middle East, Japan and other nations to work in coffee farms.
• The impact of this international immigration is present in the heritage of most Brazilians today who have family trees that include European, African, Amerindian, Asian and Middle Eastern backgrounds.
• Without any doubt, this is one of the most interesting features of Brazilian culture, music, cuisine and traditions.
Brazil continues to be a major coffee producing country. Brazil accounts for about 25% of the world's supply of coffee with 80% of its production being Arabica beans.
As the song goes in Brazil, "...they've got an awful lot of coffee in Brazil..." It is well worth tasting a cup of Brazilian Santos Bourbon with some smooth Samba music in the background. So, what are you waiting for?
Author Bio:
Timothy ("Tim") S. Collins, the author, is called by those who know him "The Gourmet Coffee Guy." He is an expert in article writing who has done extensive research online and offline in his area of expertise, coffee marketing, as well as in other areas of personal and professional interest.
Come visit the author's website: http://www.ourgourmetcoffee.com
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