Seventh Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival Slated for March 2

The seventh staging of the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival is slated for Saturday, March 2 at Newcastle in St. Andrew.

The festival offers patrons the opportunity to explore Blue Mountain Coffee and coffee-related products, and experience the coffee culture through food and activities.

Addressing Tuesday’s (January 9) launch at Devon House in Kingston, Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, shared that the coffee beverage constitutes only 20 per cent of the by-products that can be derived from the coffee bean, noting that the remaining 80 per cent is virtually wasted.

Consequently, he urges Jamaicans to identify unique ways to utilise Jamaica’s “rich and authentic” coffee, as it will allow a larger number of ordinary Jamaicans to share in the economic gains.

“I want more involvement in the coffee value chain [which includes] coffee scrubs and coffee perfumes. I went all the way to Dubai to buy a coffee roll-on. Brazil has learnt that the derivatives from coffee can be more lucrative than even the coffee itself,” Mr. Bartlett said.

The Minister pointed out that the nutraceutical and cosmetic values of coffee need to be explored, adding that artefacts and curios can also be made from the beans.

“Let’s make coffee mats, coffee candles and think of the demand for coffee candles in hotels across Jamaica,” Mr. Bartlett remarked.

Chair of the Gastronomy Network, Nicola Madden-Greig, shared that the month-long celebration, which commences on March 1, will include a ‘shop and sip’ programme in partnership with cafés and coffee producers, farm tours in the Blue Mountains, trade days aimed at improving the skillset of coffee farmers in areas like marketing, and barista and mixology competitions.

She noted that the Government has been collaborating with the Gastronomy Network to ensure that the “premium Jamaican product is seen, known and experienced by not only Jamaicans but the world”.

January 9 is observed as Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day, in commemoration of the first shipment of coffee beans to Japan in 1953.

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, encouraged coffee lovers to exhibit national pride by choosing and enjoying Jamaican coffee.

He shared that Jamaica had a record export of coffee in 2022, valued US$24.4 million.

“We must now get new investors into the coffee business. I am encouraging Jamaican investors to make sure they invest in coffee. There is money to be made in coffee,” Senator Hill said.

The Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival is spearheaded by Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) in partnership with Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association, and one of the leading coffee manufacturers, Coffee Traders Limited.

It aims to promote Blue Mountain Coffee, celebrate its producers and demonstrate the Government’s support for the sector.

For more information, persons can connect with the organisers on social media @JamaicaCoffeeFest or visit http://www.bluemountaincoffeefest.com.