The Surprising Myth of Coffee’s Origin
Who doesn’t love a mystery? While there’s a couple theories as to how coffee was first discovered, no one really knows the truth – except maybe some ancient goats. One popular myth about coffee’s debut into mainstream culture came about when a couple of rogue goats living in the forests of Ethiopia were drawn to its berries. The natural caffeine is said to have kept the goats awake at night and had given them enough energy to spark curiosity in their caretaker, Kaldi. After finding the berries in question, Kaldi went to his local monastery to recount the tale and what started as piqued curiosity quickly spread into a worldwide phenomenon. The news of energy-infused berries traveled from monk to monk, monastery to monastery, town to town, then as trade and travel spread, shore to shore.
It took a couple of centuries for coffee to reach the corners of the world and quickly take over as one of the leading beverages. By the 15th century, there were coffee houses, coffee farms, even coffee-centric events all over the Arabian Peninsula. But it wasn’t until the 17th century that the phenomenon hit Europe. Not everyone took so kindly to the new drink – some even claiming it had dark connections with Satan. These claims, coupled with the passions of the time period, are what drove the clergy to insist that Pope Clement VIII intervene in the growing controversy. Luckily for us, Pope Clement VIII insisted on trying coffee for himself before making any snap judgments and gave it his stamp of approval.
Since the goat herd had their first taste of caffeine, coffee has taken the world by storm. It’s our great connector - having woven itself into each of our daily lives no matter where we are in the world. Interested in tasting coffee from the place it all started? BLK & Bold’s LIMU, Ethiopia in Single-Serve Steeped Bags are your ticket. So, grab your mug, enjoy a sip, and take your moment to savor the history in your hands!
SHOP LIMU, ETHIOPIA BLEND
Source: https://www.ncausa.org/about-coffee/history-of-coffee