This summer, coffee giant Starbucks says one of its biggest successes came from the sunny island of Jamaica.  Its popular summer campaign featured Jamaican coffee in a bid to bring discerning coffee drinkers into their stores.

The retail chain bought a record 110 barrels of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee this summer, which is more than twice as much as previous purchases.  Starbucks sold it in select stores across the United States under the name “Starbucks Reserve Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee”.   All the coffee sold out.

Those of us familiar with this mild and flavorful coffee are not surprised.  The beans are grown on small plantations in Jamaica’s stunning Blue Mountains, and are highly prized for their lack of bitterness.   The Blue Mountains are among the highest peaks in the Caribbean.  The cool climate, excellent drainage, and moist, rich soil make it perfect for growing coffee beans.  Over the past generation, Jamaican coffee has built an international reputation for excellence, and that has made it one of the most prized, and one of the most expensive, coffees in the world.   Blue Mountain coffee is also used to make the popular Tia Maria coffee liqueur.

Traditionally, nearly all of Jamaica’s coffee exports go to Japan.  However, the global recession has slowed Japan’s demand for coffee, and that has opened up room for new buyers, such as Starbucks.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is a globally protected label, which means that only coffee beans from the Jamaica’s Blue Mountains can carry this label.  This means only coffee beans harvested from the parishes of Saint Andrew, Saint Mary, Portland and Saint Thomas may carry the trademark of Blue Mountain coffee.

Of course, the very best way to experience the pleasures of Jamaican coffee is to come and drink it in Jamaica.   Beautiful Jamaica rental properties are available, so on your next family getaway, you can wake up to the rich scent of Jamaican coffee, brewed in the lush mountains all around.  Check out the Tryall Villas in Jamaica, and start planning the perfect taste experience on your next Caribbean vacation.