A Little Hawaiian Coffee History

Provided by: Coffeespecialties.com

Whether you have visited the islands or are planning to, Hawaii is known for its excellent coffee. All the Hawaiian islands participate in the tradition of growing excellent coffee. The first coffee plantation was established in Hanalei Valley on Kauai's North Shore, but was wiped out in 1858 by a scale insect. However, the plants on the Big Island in Kona thrived due to the rich volcanic soil, higher elevation on the slopes of Mauna Loa, and its consistent cloud cover. Kona is the only place in the United States where coffee has been grown commercially for over 100 years.

By the mid-1800s, coffee in Hawaii had a ready market with all the mariners, and Maui was an important delivery stop between Kona and Honolulu for vessels laden with coffee. By the 1930's there were more than 1,000 coffee farms in Kona. Most Kona farm sizes are small, averaging less than 5 acres each. Today, there are over 6,500 acres of coffee in cultivation statewide. Coffee is the sixth largest diversified agricultural crop in Hawaii. No matter where you are you can enjoy great Hawaiian coffee. Many companies such as www.CoffeeSpecialties.com ship Hawaiian coffee all over the world. They work with the best growers and roasters on the islands and offer a fine selection of premium Hawaiian coffee that they will ship fresh to your door. It's a vacation in every cup.

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Coffeespecialties.com offers a complete selection of hard to find and gourmet coffees. Over 100 coffees in 8 categories from every part of the world.