The Origin Story of Geisha Coffee
For many, a cup of coffee is a morning necessity, a comforting routine. But for those who have had the pleasure of sipping Geisha coffee, it's a journey—an aromatic voyage that transports you to distant lands. This coffee varietal, renowned for its unique flavour profile, traces its origins back to the remote forests of Ethiopia. Let's delve into the captivating origin story of Geisha coffee.
The Geisha coffee journey begins in the 1930s in the wild Gori Gesha forest of Ethiopia1. Amidst the lush greenery, an expedition led by British consul Richard Whalley discovered a variety of wild coffee trees that seemed quite distinctive. Little did they know, these coffee trees would become one of the most sought-after coffee varietals in the world.
Fast forward to the 1960s, the seeds of the Geisha tree found a new home in Panama, thanks to a collective effort by the Panamanian government and the United Nations to diversify the country's coffee supply2. These seeds were planted in several regions across Panama, including the now-famous Hacienda La Esmeralda.
For years, the Geisha coffee trees grew relatively unnoticed, mistaken for other, more common varietals. It wasn't until a catastrophic leaf rust outbreak in the early 2000s, that Geisha's unique resistance to the disease brought it into the spotlight3.
Geisha Coffee truly gained global recognition in 2004 when it won the Best of Panama competition. This accolade sparked interest worldwide, leading to a surge in demand and skyrocketing prices4. The delicate, tea-like profile and floral notes of Geisha coffee, unlike any other coffee varietal, had taken the world by storm.
Today, Geisha coffee is prized as one of the finest and most expensive coffees globally, and it all started with a humble tree in the forests of Ethiopia. This testament to nature’s brilliance and the perseverance of coffee growers stands as a unique gem in the coffee world. Every sip of Geisha coffee offers not just an exceptional flavour experience, but also a taste of its rich history and heritage.
Footnotes
"Geisha: The Story of the World’s Most Prestigious Coffee" from Perfect Daily Grind. (URL: https://www.perfectdailygrind.com/2018/03/geisha-the-story-of-the-worlds-most-prestigious-coffee/)
"Panama Geisha Coffee Beans: An In-Depth Guide" from Coffee or Bust. (URL: https://coffeeorbust.com/panama-geisha-coffee-beans/)
"Gesha vs. Geisha: Inside the World's Most Expensive Coffee" from Roast Magazine. (URL: https://dailycoffeenews.com/2018/02/19/gesha-vs-geisha-inside-the-worlds-most-expensive-coffee/)
"Why Is Geisha Coffee So Expensive?" from HandGround. (URL: https://handground.com/grind/why-is-geisha-coffee-so-expensive)