Benefits of Green Coffee

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Coffee Blogger

The Orient records the consumption of coffee more as a health drink in its initial years since discovery. The Ethiopian monks and even the Sudanese took to coffee beans as a stimulant helping them to journey to places without getting tired. Therefore right from the time of its discovery it became an evident fact that the coffee beans contained certain chemical energizer that kept the body active. More was unraveled with researches which proved coffee to be a beverage having potential medicinal values.

In the realm of coffee, green coffee it is to be noted is healthier than the roasted coffee beans.

The Merits:

Green coffee contains chlorogenic and caffeic acids. These polyphenolic compounds help in the absorption of free oxygen and hydroxyl radicals, which wears out the human cells and reduces the formation of new ones. Controlling these radicals, the polyphenols act as a catalyst for replenishing the dead cells. This helps prevent pre-ageing.

It also assists the liver to process fatty acids thus helping in considerable fat reduction. So the green coffee beans also have anti obesity properties.

As green coffee beans are not roasted they are resplendent in natural chemicals and have no cafestol, which otherwise would have pulled up the cholesterol level.

Green coffee is also considered immensely valuable as acute migraine medication.

The ferulic acid contained in the green coffee aggravates body metabolism and also increases human vasoreactivity.

There are many other advantages of green coffee which have propelled its popularity and have establishes it as a healthy beverage. One significant fact to be stated here is that in comparison to roasted coffee beans, the green ones stays fresh for a longer period of time. Making green coffee is a dexterous work as preserving the essence is as important as preserving the natural contents of the beans.  Among the varieties of green coffee the best is the coffea Arabica from Ethiopia. Its deep fragrance much stimulates the senses. Often the green coffee is served with spices to make it a more invigorating drink

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Indian Coffee Plantations – A Look Back With Nostalgia

Posted on March 19, 2011 by Coffee Blogger

Sometime around 17th century, Baba Budan an Indian pilgrim visited Mecca and secretively returned with seven coffee beans and planted them on the Chandragiri hills. This marked the beginning of coffee plantation in India. This incident spruced up several small coffee plantations and by 1840 the British Empire promoted it as a lucrative export trade.  Following the historic line it can be seen that the period between the 17th century and the 1860’s, India’s coffee production scaled high. Authentic Ethiopian Arabica was grown in the hill tracks of the southern Indian states. 

Esteemed European coffee dealers pushed the demand and monopolized Indian coffee market. However this flourishing scenario was curbed due to certain economic disputes within the domestic market of India. The British landowners would levy high tax on the framers of coffee plantation who in turn failed to improve the production line. This resulted in stagnation of the quality of the coffee. This brought down the market value and weakened the Indian export market. 

Another factor that harmed Indian coffee plantation is the epidemic of coffee rust. This fungus directly affected the leaves of the Arabica trees and led to defoliation of the trees. As an alternative the coffee planters had to move to a viable alternative; a coffee plant which would be more rust tolerant. Robusta was introduced along with certain other hybrids of Arabica. Also the production of coffee declined with increased tea plantation the influenced northern India to a great extent in the late 1860s. 

However there is no reason to engage in a nostalgic recollection as of present day the traditional coffee hubs of India; Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu extends a huge export market of coffee for the European world. Almost exporting 98% these states grow the “Indian monsooned coffee”, in shade regions. Much of the coffee aromatics are derived from the system of inter-cropping with spices like cardamom, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. Presently reports show that India has more than 250,000 small coffee plantations which are inclusive even of the non-traditional coffee states (Andhra Pradesh and Orissa). A careful retrospection is thus indicative of progress when it comes to coffee plantation in India.

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